One of South Korea’s largest construction and engineering firms wants to slide cross-laminated timber panels into steel buildings, with POSCO E&C today signing an agreement with South Korea’s National Institute of Forest Science to ramp up “green building technology using domestic wood.”
Wood Central understands that the agreement will see the construction giant work with the research group to develop hybrid construction systems using South Korea’s abundant timber supplies. Starting with vertical timber extensions, which “significantly reduce the use of concrete in existing buildings,” POSCO E&C wants to move into the single-family and multi-family market before targeting the mid-rise and high-rise building market.
“Based on this agreement, we will accelerate the development of building technologies with structural safety and economic feasibility by combining the technical capabilities of both organisations, according to a representative from POSCO E&C, who said the venture is a key part of the giant’s push to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. “We will continue to expand our technology to reduce indirect carbon emissions (Scope 3) that occur in the entire process from material production to transportation and post-construction building operation.”
Mass timber is gaining traction in South Korea.
Last year, Tai Jeong – Country Director for Canada Wood Korea – reported that large-scale timber construction was gaining momentum across the country, “(partially) fueled by the government’s commitment to carbon neutrality and sustainable building practices, with public sector projects taking the lead in adopting wood as a key material.”
At the same time, Jeong said private interest in mass timber construction is also growing, “with projects like the Hwang Yun-seok Silhak Library in Gochang-gun and a 12-story wooden building in Jongno-gu, Seoul.”
- To learn more about South Korea’s forest potential, which now has 65% forest coverage (more than double the global average), click here for Wood Central’s special feature from August 2024.
