Ministry of Science and ICT "100,000 Mask Filters to be Supplied Next Month"

On the 17th, when the mask 5-day rotation system was in effect, citizens lined up in front of a pharmacy in Yeouido, Seoul to purchase masks. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] The Ministry of Science and ICT will utilize research equipment from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology to supply filters for health masks. This amount of filters can produce about 100,000 masks per day. After completing all necessary procedures such as approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, it is expected that the filters will be supplied as masks by next month at the latest. This is expected to greatly help resolve the mask shortage caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Supplying Filters for 100,000 Masks Using Research Equipment

On the 18th, businesspeople attending the 47th Commerce Day ceremony held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, are wearing masks and conducting a rehearsal. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Ministry of Science and ICT decided to utilize the pilot plant for filter production, which is part of their research equipment, to produce mask filters in order to solve the mask shortage. This equipment can produce 200kg of melt-blown (MB) filter material. This amount is sufficient to produce about 100,000 masks per day with KF80 to KF94 grades. MB filters are the core material for KF grade masks. KF masks are classified as KF80 (over 80%), KF94 (over 94%), and KF99 (over 99%) based on their fine dust filtration efficiency.

Since the 25th of last month, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology has been working to convert the research equipment into mass production facilities for masks. Accordingly, on the 18th, they produced mask filters with filtration performance at the KF80 level. The institute is currently working on improving the quality of these filters to reach the KF94 level.

The Ministry of Science and ICT has been establishing the foundation to produce masks through inter-ministerial consultations. As a result of these efforts, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters instructed the Ministry of Science and ICT on the same day to ensure that masks can be supplied from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology as soon as possible. The Ministry of Science and ICT is currently discussing mask production approval, recommending mask manufacturers, and public sales with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Supplying About 80% as Public Masks

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering an opening remark at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to supply about 80% of the masks produced by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology as public masks. A Ministry official stated, "Although further discussions are needed, about 80% of the total quantity will be supplied as public masks sold at pharmacies and post offices," and added, "The remaining 20% is being considered for supply to COVID-19 special disaster areas."

Jeong Byeong-seon, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, visited the Convergence Production Technology Research Institute of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology on the same day to check the situation. He encouraged the staff who are fully committed to converting the MB filter production system. He stated, "In preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 situation, we will focus on filter supply through flexible operation of national research facilities."

Meanwhile, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology is the only practical research institute among the 25 government-funded research institutes under the Ministry of Science and ICT that operates an industrial textile group. The institute has a pilot plant installed through the industrial textile research infrastructure project, which can produce filter prototypes and test them in actual processes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.