Yoo Je-cheol, President of the Environmental Industry Technology Institute, "Economic Vitality and Job Creation through Green Industry"

Inauguration of the 5th Director... Online Inauguration Ceremony at the Main Building on the 23rd
"Green Technology and Industry, the Key to Overcoming the Global Environmental Crisis"
"Need to Expand Green Product Certification and Improve Distribution Networks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] "Let us work together to enhance the competitiveness of the green industry, enter the global market, and create a virtuous cycle of job creation to successfully achieve national policy goals."

This was the inaugural statement of Yoo Je-cheol, former Director of the Ministry of Environment's Living Environment Policy Office, who was inaugurated as the 5th President of the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. At the inauguration ceremony held on the 23rd at the main building in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, President Yoo stated, "We must create an ecosystem for the green industry to revitalize our economy." The ceremony was conducted online via video streaming for employees to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

President Yoo repeatedly emphasized to the executives and staff the importance of fostering green technology and green industries to overcome global environmental issues and economic crises. He said, "We need to strengthen support and expand investment, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, until green technology innovation companies grow into 'unicorn companies' leading the industry." He urged generous investment in the development of convergence and fusion technologies combined with 4th industrial revolution technologies to solve environmental issues around us, such as fine dust.

Quoting a report from the U.S. market research firm Environmental Business International (EBI), he diagnosed, "The global green industry market reaches approximately 1,500 trillion won, with an average annual growth rate of 3.6%. Competition among countries to dominate the green industry market is fiercer than ever." He pledged to devote efforts to supporting environmental industry companies and creating jobs so that the green industry becomes a growth engine that revitalizes our economy. President Yoo said, "The development of green technology and industry is the key to overcoming the global environmental crisis and simultaneously a new growth opportunity," adding, "We must continuously discover green technologies that enable a sustainable future for the planet."

He also stressed the importance of green products and eco-friendly conscientious consumption. Since the introduction of environmental labeling certification in Korea in 1992, it has expanded to 165 product categories, with about 16,400 certified products?the largest scale for a single country. Accordingly, President Yoo emphasized, "Although Korea's green consumption and production system is recognized as an international model case, there is still a long way to go," and urged, "We must continue efforts to ensure more green products are chosen by consumers." He argued that it is time to consider expanding green product certification to everyday life products, improving distribution channels, and providing incentives for green consumers.

Finally, he urged the executives and staff, "We must listen to the voices of various customers?the reason the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute exists?including environmental authorities, environmental companies, general citizens practicing eco-friendly consumption, and victims of environmental pollution."

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