Korea ready-mixed concrete federation opens Jeju management forum
In short
The Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation said it opened its 2026 Jeju Ready-Mixed Concrete Management Innovation Forum at the Maison Glad Hotel in Jeju on Oct. 5, with about 300 representatives of member cooperatives and member companies attending. The federation said the forum, held under the theme “beyond recovery to solid growth,” is meant to review industry issues during a prolonged construction downturn and to look at public procurement policy, low-carbon cement and AI. Chairman Bae Jo-woong said the federation's role is to build a policy foundation so member companies can keep operating without worry.
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The Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation said it opened the 2026 Jeju Ready-Mixed Concrete Management Innovation Forum at the Maison Glad Hotel in Jeju on Oct. 5, with about 300 people attending, including representatives of member cooperatives and member companies, according to Asia Economy, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. The federation announced the event on Oct. 6. Seoul Economic Daily placed the hotel in Jeju City and reported the forum runs two nights and three days, through Oct. 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The forum's theme is “beyond recovery to solid growth — taking the first step of a new beginning.” The federation said the gathering was arranged to review the main issues facing the ready-mixed concrete industry during a prolonged construction downturn and to seek management strategies for a rapidly changing industrial environment. [ 1 , 2 ]
On the first day, Oct. 5, industry experts gave lectures on the direction of public procurement policy, key ready-mixed concrete issues, and the construction outlook and the industry's response. The Korea Concrete Testing Institute presented the state of the cement and ready-mixed concrete industries in Japan and China, based on industrial exchanges, along with trends in domestic low-carbon cement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
On the second day, Oct. 6, the forum examines future management strategies on subjects including how small and medium-sized ready-mixed concrete companies should respond in the era of the AI transition, according to Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily. [ 1 , 2 ]
Chairman Bae Jo-woong said he expected the forum to be a starting point for responding together to changes approaching the industry, including public markets, carbon neutrality and AI, and for moving toward solid growth. He said it is an important role of the federation to create and refine a policy foundation so that member companies can continue their business without worry, adding — in Asia Economy's account — that if the industry shows society it can be trusted on supply and quality, it can achieve the results it wants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Newsis and Korea Economic Daily carried headlines about the forum but their article bodies covered unrelated items — a Blue House statement on Supreme Court appointments, and ready-mixed concrete transport disputes, respectively — and gave no further details of the event. [ 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The forum shows a domestic building-materials sector organising around a long construction slump, with public procurement, low-carbon cement trends and AI adoption framed as pressures its small and medium-sized members must answer. The documents report no decisions or agreements, so any effect on how ready-mixed concrete suppliers approach public contracts or low-carbon cement remains prospective.
Key facts
- The federation held the 2026 Jeju Ready-Mixed Concrete Management Innovation Forum at the Maison Glad Hotel in Jeju starting Oct. 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- About 300 representatives of member cooperatives and member companies attended, according to Asia Economy, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reported the event runs two nights and three days, through Oct. 7, at the hotel in Jeju City. [ 2 ]
- The theme is “beyond recovery to solid growth — taking the first step of a new beginning.” [ 1 , 2 ]
- Day-one sessions covered public procurement policy, ready-mixed concrete issues and the construction outlook. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The Korea Concrete Testing Institute presented on cement and ready-mixed concrete industries in Japan and China and on domestic low-carbon cement trends. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Day-two sessions address how small and medium-sized ready-mixed concrete companies should respond to the AI transition. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Chairman Bae Jo-woong said the forum should be a starting point for responding to changes such as public markets, carbon neutrality and AI. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The federation held the forum at the Maison Glad Hotel in Jeju starting Oct. 5 with about 300 member representatives attending. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The forum was organised to examine pending industry issues and seek management strategies amid a prolonged construction downturn. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Day-one programmes covered public procurement policy, ready-mixed concrete issues, the construction outlook and low-carbon cement trends. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The Korea Concrete Testing Institute shared findings on overseas cement and ready-mixed concrete industries in Japan and China and on domestic low-carbon cement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Chairman Bae Jo-woong said the forum should be a starting point for responding to changes such as public markets, carbon neutrality and AI, and that the federation's role is to build and refine a policy foundation for member companies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the forum produced any resolutions, agreements or policy proposals. The documents describe the programme and speeches but report no outcomes or decisions.
- What specific measures the federation will pursue on public procurement, carbon neutrality or AI support for member companies. The documents state the chairman's intention to build a policy foundation but give no details.
- How many companies the member cooperatives and member firms represent beyond the roughly 300 attendees. Only the number of participants is given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy reports the federation opened the forum on Oct. 5 with about 300 attendees and that day-two sessions on AI responses for small and medium-sized ready-mixed concrete firms are under way. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the forum is being held at the Maison Glad Hotel in Jeju and runs through Oct. 7. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the federation announced the Oct. 5 forum and its approximately 300 attendees. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes a headline saying the small ready-mixed concrete industry is holding an innovation forum in Jeju to seek future strategies. [ 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the federation said it held the forum the previous day at the same hotel with about 300 attendees. [ 5 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes a headline saying the federation held the management innovation forum in Jeju. [ 6 ]