Korea Federation of SMEs Holds First Root Industry Committee Meeting... Discusses AI Adoption Strategies

Discussion of Current Issues with Experts Over the Next Two Years

The Korea Federation of SMEs announced on June 16 that it held the first Root Industry Committee meeting of 2025 at its headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

This committee was formed to strengthen the competitiveness of the root industries, such as mold, casting, and plastic forming. Over the next two years, under the leadership of Chairman Park Pyeongjae (Chairman of the Korea Surface Finishing Cooperative), a total of 19 committee members?including chairpersons of root industry-related SME cooperatives and experts?will discuss current issues facing the industry and seek ways to promote its development.

At the meeting, the committee discussed with experts the topic of "Cases of Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications and Strategies for AI Adoption in Root Industry Processes." First, Park Iljun, Senior Researcher at the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), presented best practices of AI utilization by SMEs in the root industry, including an AI system that sets optimal operating conditions for mold and press manufacturing processes and improvements in the manufacturing environment for surface finishing businesses. Next, Lee Hanwoong, Director at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, presented a strategy for advancing the root industry based on AI, offering strategies for artificial intelligence transformation (AX) and digital transformation (DX) for root industry companies.

The committee members agreed on the need to advance each process technologically in order to overcome chronic challenges such as labor shortages and declining productivity. However, considering the reality of worksites with no surplus labor, they concluded that it is necessary to support the step-by-step construction of AI systems tailored to each root industry, starting with data accumulation.

Chairman Park Pyeongjae stated, "President Lee Jaemyung's key pledges include expanding support for the root industry, supporting AI transformation, and including energy costs in the supply price linkage system, among many other policies related to the root industry. We expect on-site, customized policy support that reflects the voices of businesses, such as building AX based on common demands in root industries and reforming the electricity billing system for root industry SMEs."

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