Son Kyung-shik: "Every Effort of Industrial Heroes Created the Miracle on the Han River"

Attending the "Luncheon for Industrial Heroes"

Son Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), attended the "Luncheon for Industrial Heroes" hosted by the government on December 4 as a representative of the business community, expressing his gratitude to those who have supported the nation’s industrial sites.

Yonhap News Agency

This event was organized in celebration of Trade Day to honor and recognize the dedication of industrial heroes from various sectors-including shipbuilding, automotive, textiles, electronics, machinery, defense, and shipping-who have contributed to the economic development of South Korea.

Participants shared their workplace experiences and perspectives on the future in a relaxed atmosphere. Kim Kiha, a master craftsman who has worked in the heat treatment field for 47 years and led the localization of advanced heat treatment processes for various defense products, recalled, "We made it this far by learning through trial and error every day in an environment where both the methods for acquiring technology and the equipment were lacking."

Ko Mincheol, who was named a master craftsman in shipbuilding following in his father's footsteps, stated, "I will build a better future on the foundation laid by previous generations," and added, "I will strive to ensure that the next generation can work more comfortably, more safely, and with greater confidence."

Chairman Son conveyed a message of gratitude for the contributions of industrial heroes on behalf of the business community.

He emphasized, "The reason South Korea has grown into an industrial and export powerhouse recognized by the world is thanks to the sweat, skills, and dedication of the industrial heroes who quietly built the foundation of our economy at the industrial sites."

He continued, "You, the industrial heroes, may not be recorded in history, but you are the industrial heroes who must never be forgotten. Every one of your efforts has come together to create the Miracle on the Han River. On behalf of the business community, I extend my deepest gratitude, and I pledge to do my utmost for a new leap forward in the Korean economy, based on the spirit of technology and craftsmanship you have cultivated."

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