[New Year's Message] Lim Hae-jong, President of Korea Gas Safety Corporation, "We Must Not Lose Leadership in the Hydrogen Economy"

Lim Hae-jong, President of Korea Gas Safety Corporation. (Photo by Korea Gas Safety Corporation)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Lim Haejong, President of the Korea Gas Safety Corporation, emphasized on the 4th, "To lead the global hydrogen economy, we must maintain momentum and not lose the initiative through swift progress."

In his New Year's address, President Lim stated, "We will expand the hydrogen safety management organization and focus resources such as personnel and budget," expressing this commitment.

The Gas Safety Corporation reorganized the previously two-team operated 'Hydrogen Safety Center' into the 'Hydrogen Safety Institute' as of the 1st of this month. Within the institute, a five-division system is established for safety management sectors, with about 80 personnel carrying out related tasks.

President Lim urged, "Please strengthen monitoring of the hydrogen economy roadmap and comprehensive hydrogen safety management measures to ensure visible results."

He diagnosed that bold changes and innovations breaking away from the existing gas safety management paradigm are necessary.

President Lim pointed out, "Last year, there were 98 gas accidents, which is about an 83% reduction compared to the record high of 577 cases in 1995," but added, "Despite the groundbreaking reduction trend, underdeveloped country-type accidents such as careless handling and inadequate facilities continue."

He further argued, "We need to shift from a regulation-centered, government-led safety management to a supplier-centered autonomous safety management system," and stated, "Suppliers should take full responsibility for practical safety management activities at demand facilities, while the government should manage and support private sector activities by introducing a new model."

He added, "In preparation for the Digital New Deal era, we will improve the entire inspection process service to be non-face-to-face and online-centered," and "We will also accelerate the development of smart safety management technologies integrated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

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