'Construction Day 2026' ceremony highlights smart building as key to future competitiveness

Government officials, industry leaders and the next generation of construction professionals gathered Thursday to share a vision for the future of South Korea's construction sector.

The Korea Federation of Construction Associations held the "Construction Day 2026" ceremony at the Construction Hall in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 3 p.m. Thursday. Held under the theme "K-Construction: Building the Future," the event drew particular attention as Prime Minister Han Seong-sook chose it as her first official economic engagement since taking office.

Han said the government would actively support the construction industry in overcoming sluggish growth and emerging as a future-oriented growth sector. She urged the industry to use that support "to expand housing supply, spread smart construction technology, strengthen competitiveness in overseas construction, and improve the industry's fundamentals to create safe construction sites that the public can trust."

The ceremony also drew 350 aspiring construction professionals — high school and university students from across the country. A special exhibition titled "Future K-Construction," showcasing AI, construction robots and digital safety management systems, was held alongside the main event.

Korea Federation of Construction Associations Chairman Han Seung-gu said the construction industry, as a core national sector that has underpinned South Korea's growth and the livelihoods of its people, "must now reinvent itself as an attractive industry that young people seek out on their own." He added that the sector must "actively adopt cutting-edge technologies such as AI, robots and drones to simultaneously innovate productivity and safety, and secure future competitiveness through smart construction."

Han also said the government's three major mega-projects, valued at 4,000 trillion won ($2.65 trillion), represent "a historic opportunity for the construction industry to take another leap forward," and that "through bold regulatory reform, strategic investment and institutional support, we must make the construction industry the central pillar of South Korea's future growth."

At the ceremony, 107 construction professionals who made outstanding contributions across various fields received government commendations and awards. Jo In-ho, chief executive of Haegwang E&C Co., received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. Choi Gil-hak, chief executive of Seorim General Construction Co., and Choi Sang-dae, chief executive of Daedo Togon Co., each received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. Jang Heung-su, chief executive of Yeongsin General Construction Co., and Lee Sa-cheol, chief executive of Seonjin A&F Co., each received the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit.

Son Dong-chan, chief executive of Daeho General Construction Co., and two others received the Industrial Service Medal. Kang Jin-san, chief executive of Sunwoo Construction Co., and five others received presidential commendations, and Kim Hyeon-ho, chief executive of Ins Industrial Development Co., and five others received prime ministerial commendations.