‘Curling Stone’ Gets a Thumbs Up from Geochang! … Geochang Granite Research Center Goes All In for the Second Boom of the Stone Industry

Review of Industrial Development Directions, Support for Precise Reserve Assessment, Promotion of Designation as Specialized Procurement Inspection Agency

Geochang Granite Research Center.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Geochang Granite Research Center in Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam, the only stone material specialized research institute in Korea, is building a foundation for the development of Geochang granite and preparing for a second renaissance of the stone material industry by supporting competitiveness enhancement.

The scale of the Geochang granite stone material industry has continuously strengthened its industrial viability under the interest and support of Geochang-gun.

In 2018, it established itself as a major industry accounting for about 7.4% of Geochang-gun's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of approximately 152 billion KRW.

Major achievements in supporting the Geochang granite industry include supporting the primary industry through research and development, such as developing quarrying economic feasibility and slope stability evaluation technologies. Additionally, by operating an internationally accredited testing institution, it provides testing services supporting the secondary stone material industry nationwide.

Geochang granite, a local resource of Geochang-gun, is known as an excellent eco-friendly stone material that does not contain harmful substances to the human body such as asbestos and radon.

Also, during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, thanks to the silver medal won in the curling event, Geochang-gun gained attention once again through the development and production achievements of curling stones, which are mainly made of stone material.

Geochang-gun established a comprehensive plan for Geochang granite in 2006 and is promoting it step by step. Currently, as the stone material industry faces a stagnation period, the Geochang Granite Research Center has prepared a plan for the second renaissance of the stone material industry.

The director of the Geochang Granite Research Center said, “With the enactment of the Act on the Promotion of the Stone Material Industry, we plan to proceed step by step based on the comprehensive plan, including diagnosing the basic direction, establishing an industrial development foundation, and supporting and fostering the industry.”

Detailed projects underway include reviewing the direction of industrial development, supporting precise reserve evaluation, and designating a specialized procurement inspection institution. Through the application for the tentative ‘Geochang Granite Industrial Promotion District,’ they plan to secure necessary financial support from the Korea Forest Service and prepare a budget-saving plan for Geochang-gun.

The center is focusing on supporting technological development of the local stone material industry, raising industrial awareness, and steadily carrying out preparations for the second renaissance.

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