[Future in Urban Mining]⑦ "Must Foster as a National Strategic Resource... Need for an Integrated Governmental Control Tower"

Rethinking Waste as a Resource
The Need for an Integrated Government Control Tower

In South Korea, where natural resources are scarce, 'urban mining'—the recovery of valuable metals from electronic and electrical waste—is rapidly emerging as a core alternative for resource security. With China effectively controlling the global mineral supply chain from mining to smelting, there is a growing call to redefine urban mining beyond simple recycling and elevate it to a strategic industry.

Kim Yeon-gyu, Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies at Hanyang University and Director of the Asia-Pacific Regional Studies Center, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

On May 29, Kim Yeon-gyu, Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies at Hanyang University and Director of the Asia-Pacific Regional Studies Center, stated in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, "Although legislation related to the circular economy has already been established in Korea, there still remains a perception and regulation at the field level that view waste simply as waste." He emphasized, "In the era of critical minerals, we need to look at waste from a resource perspective."

Dean Kim diagnosed that the recent global supply chain competition is expanding beyond technological hegemony to a race to secure critical minerals. He explained that as the United States and China compete over strategic minerals such as rare earth elements, nickel, and lithium, countries are fostering the recycling industry at the national strategy level. "Currently, there is a competition over waste, similar to past mining races," he said, adding, "Major countries like Japan are approaching electronic waste as a source of critical mineral resources and are taking a strategic approach."

On the other hand, he pointed out that despite the institutional establishment of a circular economy in Korea, field regulations are still based on traditional waste management perspectives. Dean Kim stressed, "Since securing critical minerals is directly linked to national security and industrial competitiveness, regulations must be revised accordingly."

He further noted, "To enhance the economic viability of the recycling industry, we need to strengthen our pre-processing competitiveness," identifying the significant outflow of materials overseas as a key issue. "Chinese companies have penetrated the domestic market, and a substantial portion of electronic waste is flowing out of the country," he pointed out. He added, "In line with the United States’ rapid establishment of a supply chain independent from China—using Australia and other regions as hubs—we must also make every effort to stabilize supply chains through recycling and resource diplomacy."

Professor Sungjoong Kwon of the Department of Energy Resources Engineering at Sejong University (Vice Chairman of the Battery Recycling Committee of the Korean Society of Waste Resource Circulation) is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Hyunju Lee

Kwon Sungjoong, Professor in the Department of Energy Resources Engineering at Sejong University and Vice Chairman of the Battery Recycling Committee of the Korean Society of Waste Resource Circulation, stated, "During periods when mining costs or international raw material prices surge, the economic viability of recycling-derived materials becomes even more prominent." For example, he explained, extracting 1g of lithium from a discarded battery—rather than mining it from a natural deposit and refining it across several countries—is both more economical and eco-friendly.

Professor Kwon noted that urban mining contributes to resource independence and thereby strengthens security. Minerals concentrated in specific countries can pose geopolitical risks, but minerals obtained through waste processing reduce these risk factors. He emphasized, "The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which produces more than half of the world’s cobalt, is constantly plagued by conflict mineral issues, and China overwhelmingly dominates the Indonesian nickel smelting market. Urban mining, which extracts resources domestically via recycling, is an alternative that can shield us from such geopolitical problems."

Strengthening global regulations is another reason why urban mining must be fostered at the government level. The European Union has amended its regulations to mandate that, starting in 2031, electric vehicle battery production must use recycled materials—16% cobalt, 6% lithium, and 6% nickel. By 2036, these ratios will increase even further. Urban mining is now not just an option for companies, but a mandatory step into the ecosystem. Professor Kwon said, "In the past, many companies questioned the quality of batteries made from elements sourced from waste, but as regulations have been introduced, corporate strategies are also changing."

He also argued that in order to nurture urban mining, it is necessary to establish an integrated control tower among ministries for a swift response. "For example, the responsibility for making waste batteries lies with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the recycling industry is handled by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and electric vehicle charging falls under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. There needs to be an organization at the government level to bring these voices together," he said, adding, "It is also essential to clarify whether battery ownership at the time of electric vehicle scrapping belongs to the producer, consumer, or battery manufacturer."

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