Yoon Bum Choi: "Korea Zinc at 52, Poised to Write a Global Success Story"

Announcing the Leap Toward Becoming a Global Key Mineral Platform Company

Chairman Choi: "Korea Zinc, Forged in the Heat of the Crucible and Furnace"

Yoon Bum Choi, Chairman of Korea Zinc, presented his vision for the future on the occasion of the company's 52nd anniversary, declaring his ambition to transform Korea Zinc into a world-leading core minerals platform company. Amid intensifying global industrial competition and the accelerating reorganization of key minerals supply chains, the company plans to establish new growth foundations, leveraging the world-class smelting technology and workforce capabilities it has accumulated over the past half century.

Yoon Bum Choi, Chairman of Korea Zinc. Provided by Korea Zinc

According to Korea Zinc on August 2, Chairman Choi, in his anniversary address on July 31, emphasized that Korea Zinc's true competitiveness lies not in its machinery and equipment themselves, but in "our spirit"—the ability to overcome crises, drive innovation, and learn through perseverance. He expressed his commitment to creating future value together with all employees.

Chairman Choi stated, "I would like to thank every employee and partner who steadfastly fulfilled their responsibilities over the past year," adding, "It is a source of pride to be able to build a better future—one that the world needs—together with all of you." He also expressed his gratitude for welcoming new colleagues: Crucible Zinc and Crucible Metals in the United States.

This year, Chairman Choi chose 'Crucible' as the central theme of his anniversary address. He explained that, during the process of reviewing and advancing the integrated smelter construction project in the United States—together with key technical experts such as Vice Chairman Jejung Lee, the Chief Technology Officer, and the business development team—they realized the need for a project name. After much deliberation, the name 'Project Crucible' was selected.

He elaborated, "A crucible is a vessel in which silver is melted and refined, and it is also a space that endures intense heat to create new value. For this reason, I thought it was the name that best encapsulates the essence and future vision of Korea Zinc." He continued, "Until the day when Project Crucible is completed and the heart that beats in Onsan also beats in Tennessee, our spirits will be further forged and will grow within this crucible."

Chairman Choi also addressed the ongoing merger and acquisition (M&A) attempts concerning Korea Zinc over the past two years. He said, "When those events occurred, I experienced many thoughts, concerns, conflicts, and anguish." He added, "Now, with Project Crucible underway and as we dedicate all our efforts to realizing that dream together, I believe with certainty that what was once so painful and difficult to understand may have actually marked the beginning of a tremendous blessing." He went on to say, "Over the past 52 years, we have been refined to become today's Korea Zinc through many crucibles and forges, both large and small. Whenever we faced challenges, we did not avoid them; we confronted them head-on, gradually changed ourselves, and achieved today by investing and striving for a better tomorrow."

Chairman Choi also introduced the progress and achievements of the 'Troika Drive' strategy, a core vision for leading the future of Korea Zinc alongside Project Crucible. The Troika Drive, which focuses on resource circulation, renewable energy and green hydrogen, as well as secondary battery materials, is now producing tangible results. He also reported that production bases for core minerals, including gallium and germanium, are steadily expanding.

He emphasized, "Project Crucible is not simply the construction of a smelter; it is the starting point for supporting the industrial and economic security of Korea and its allied countries. If the Onsan Smelter led the industrialization of Korea, then Crucible Metals in Tennessee will become a hub for supplying core minerals to the global high-tech industry."

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