Establishing the Foundation for Developing the World's Safest Protective Clothing and Gloves

Kang Kyung-sung, Director of the Ministry of Industry, Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for 'Safety Protection Convergence Fiber Technology Support Center' in Iksan, Jeonbuk

Kang Kyung-sung, Director General of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that Kang Kyung-sung, Director of the Industrial Policy Office, will attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the 'Safety Protection Convergence Textile Technology Support Center' held at the Eco Convergence Textile Research Institute in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, starting at 3 p.m. on the 19th.

The ministry is promoting the 'Safety Protection Convergence Textile Industry Promotion Project,' which supports the development of high-performance safety clothing, protective gloves, and other products to reduce industrial accidents.

This project involves a total investment of 52.4 billion KRW over five years from last year through 2023, including 29.6 billion KRW from the national government, 11.5 billion KRW from local governments, and 11.3 billion KRW from private capital.

The center visited by Director Kang is a facility jointly invested in by the Ministry, Jeollabuk-do, and Iksan City to support the development of private-sector safety protection products.

The global market size for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is expected to nearly double from 52.7 billion USD last year to 92.5 billion USD by 2025.

Currently, the market is divided between high-quality products produced by companies from the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and general-purpose products produced by Chinese companies.

It is expected that Korean companies will be able to substitute imports and gain competitiveness in the global market by utilizing the center to develop and produce high-quality safety protection products.

Meanwhile, Black Yak, an outdoor specialized clothing company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on safety clothing business cooperation with Jeollabuk-do, Iksan City, and the Eco Convergence Research Institute. The institutions that signed the MOU promised cooperation regarding investment as well as administrative and technical support.

Director Kang said, "With the strengthening of safety regulations and the rapid growth of related industries, the center will become a forward base for the development of the domestic safety protection industry," adding, "We will work closely with related agencies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the National Fire Agency to ensure the widespread distribution of developed products."

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