Korea Zinc's Choi Yun-beom meets Queensland premier to explore cooperation

Korea Zinc said Monday that Chairman Choi Yun-beom met Queensland Premier David Crisafulli at the Queensland Parliament House on Friday.

Korea Zinc established its local subsidiary Sun Metal Corporation (SMC) in Townsville, Queensland, in 1996 and has operated Australia's largest zinc smelter there for nearly 30 years. The company has been deepening its ties with the Queensland government as it expands into clean energy — including solar, wind and hydrogen.

Premier Crisafulli said SMC is "one of Queensland's most important assets and a model corporate citizen," adding that Korea Zinc and its management have been "a trusted partner that has contributed to the local economy and coexisted with the community since SMC was built."

He said expanding cooperation with Korea Zinc is "a very important and necessary matter for the state government."

Crisafulli also said Queensland has recently been in talks with the United States government on critical minerals cooperation. He added that he hopes to explore a range of collaborative opportunities with Korea Zinc, which is working with Washington on Project Crucible — a critical minerals integrated smelting facility in the United States.

Choi said Korea Zinc and SMC would "do their utmost to contribute even more to Queensland's and Australia's industrial development, the establishment of a stable critical minerals supply chain, and the energy transition."

The two discussed the potential for expanding SMC's critical minerals production, cooperation with mining and smelting companies in Queensland, and the importance of strengthening a stable critical minerals supply chain within Australia.

Choi served as SMC's chief executive for about five years from 2014 to 2019, overseeing smelter operations and overall management. He gained firsthand experience of Australia's mineral resources, industrial competitiveness and clean energy ecosystem during that time.

Meanwhile, Choi met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the prime minister's office in Canberra on June 24 to discuss the need to strengthen critical minerals supply chains and enhance the competitiveness of the smelting industry.

Albanese said Korea Zinc is "a trusted company with proven operational capabilities in Australia," and described Choi — who served at SMC for a considerable period — as someone with "a very deep understanding of Australia, including its industrial environment and community engagement."