Korea honors metrology pioneers as industry ministry pledges stronger measurement base

The industry ministry's National Institute of Technology and Standards held the 56th Metrology Day ceremony on Thursday, awarding 29 honors to people and organizations that have strengthened Korea's measurement and calibration capabilities.

The top honor, the Dongtap Industrial Medal, went to Kim Sang-su, chief executive of Seojin Instec, for 37 years of developing and localizing industrial measuring equipment. Park Kyu-tae, technology chief at Korea Aerospace Industries, received a presidential citation for exporting the K-METCAL package, a Korean integrated measurement and calibration system, for the FA-50 fighter aircraft. Korea Instrument received a presidential citation for operating an internationally accredited KOLAS calibration body for 52 years, while the Korea District Heating Corp. won a prime minister's citation for localizing and improving the performance of the flow section of industrial heat meters.

The awards comprised eight government decorations — one Dongtap Industrial Medal, three presidential citations and four prime minister's citations — along with 17 ministerial citations and four awards to student supporters.

Metrology Day marks the date in 1446 when King Sejong first established a standard system for length and volume based on the yeongjocheok, a royal measuring rule.

Ahead of the ceremony, Yoon Byung-dong, a professor at Seoul National University, delivered a keynote address on measurement for industrial AX, and Kan Kan, an expert at China's metrology research institute, presented cases of measurement technology development, digitalization and AI use in Chinese industrial settings.

"Accurate and reliable measurement is core infrastructure that supports the competitiveness of advanced industries and the foundation that safeguards fair commerce and public trust," Kim Kyu-seong, the institute's director, said. "We will continue to strengthen the industrial measurement base and improve the legal metrology system to raise the competitiveness and standing of Korea's measurement industry."