Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-mu, "One Year of Japan Export Ban, 'So-Bu-Jang Industry Becomes Even Stronger'"

Following Selection as One of the 'Top 100 Small Giants in Materials, Parts, and Equipment,' Accelerating Efforts to Build the AI Industry Ecosystem

On the 2nd, Heo Seong-mu, Mayor of Changwon City, held a press conference at the City Hall Press Center to review one year of Japan's export regulations. (Photo by Changwon City)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] On the 2nd, Heo Seong-mu, mayor of Changwon City, held a press conference at the city hall press center to review ‘Changwon City's achievements and future plans’ one year after Japan's export regulations. Mayor Heo said, “Changwon's materials, parts, and equipment industry has become even stronger.”

At the press conference, officials from institutions such as the Korea Institute of Materials Science, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, and Samhyun, as well as local company representatives, attended. Mayor Heo revealed that through support for technology development of materials, parts, and equipment companies, 453 companies were supported with a project budget of 4 billion KRW last year, and 327 companies are being supported with a project budget of 4.5 billion KRW this year.

In particular, Mayor Heo attracted attention by stating that they are preparing for complete technological independence in the materials, parts, and equipment industry.

Mayor Heo said, “We are preparing to build a second Materials Research Institute on the Jinhae Yukdae site to enable one-stop support from materials commercialization to quality certification, and we are working with the province to designate Changwon National Industrial Complex as a specialized complex for fostering materials, parts, and equipment.”

He also pledged to support excellent local companies to be selected as ‘Materials, Parts, and Equipment Strong Small and Medium Enterprises 100,’ to create an AI industrial ecosystem for materials, parts, and equipment through cooperation with the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, and to thoroughly plan and discover R&D projects to strengthen technological competitiveness.

Furthermore, the Korea Institute of Materials Science and local companies mentioned their achievements in responding to Japan's export regulations.

According to Mayor Heo, they succeeded in manufacturing 1-meter-class high-strength titanium blades purely with domestic technology, which had previously relied entirely on imports, and also successfully developed technology for manufacturing nano-grade cemented carbide materials and high wear-resistant parts using scrap cemented carbide.

Companies such as Samhyun, which attended the press conference, also reflected on how they have responded to Japan's export regulations by leveraging the strengths of local companies. Samhyun, Kan Work Holding, and Daeho INT achieved technological innovations in electronic transmissions, electric machine tools, and heating materials, respectively.

Mayor Heo said, “As the mayor representing 1.04 million Changwon citizens, I will accelerate efforts so that Changwon's economy recovers and further advances as an innovative company with global competitiveness,” adding, “We promise not only to overcome Japan's export regulations but also to create new jobs centered on the materials, parts, and equipment industry, promote regional economic growth, and lead the re-advancement of South Korea's machinery industry.”

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