A ceremony to mark the 2011 World Standard Day was held at the Korea Construction Hall in Seoul on Oct. 14, 2011 with some 600 standards experts from business, government, and academic circles in attendance. The Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Yoon Sang-jik and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Secretary General Rob Steele also attended the international event.
Since 1970, ISO, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Electro technical Commission (IEC), which jointly designated Oct. 14 as World Standard Day, have been holding the commemorative event every year. A total of 42 persons received awards at the 2011 ceremony, which also marked the 50th anniversary of Korea’s enactment of the Industrial Standardization Law, a spokesman of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
ISO Secretary General Rob Steele celebrated Korea’s 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Industrial Standardization Law and delivered a message under the topic of “international standardization creates confidence in global society.” He said that international standards of various products and services provide consumers and producers with convenience and safety, greatly contributing to creating confidence in global society.
During his speech, Vice Minister Yoon said, “The ministry will make an all-out effort to help Korea play a leading role in global society as a standards powerhouse. Along with this, it will offer institutional support to link results from state R&D projects to international standards.”
In the individual category, Song Bo-kyung, CEO of Consumer Reports, won the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit at the ceremony in recognition of their contribution to introducing the concept of living standardization to the awareness of consumers.
Kim Yong-jin, vice president of MODACOM, received the Industrial Medal in recognition of his contribution to international standardization in the information and communication sector. Kim Sang-yeol, director of the Korea Testing Laboratory, won the presidential citation for his suggestion of two kinds of ISO/TC17 international standards.
Hong Ki-bong, vice president of S&T Heavy Industries, also garnered the presidential citation for his contribution to standardization of advanced weapons for the defense industry. In the corporate category, meanwhile, Koo Bon-joon, the CEO of LG Electronics, received the presidential citation in recognition of the company’s leading role in the future standardization of 3D TV, 4G communication, and transmission technologies.
Thanks to its success in international standardization of electric pressure, power line communication, and transmission line EMC, Kim Joong-gyum, CEO of KEPCO, won the presidential citation. Kwon Oh-chul, CEO of Hynix Semiconductor, garnered the Prime Minister’s citation in recognition of the company’s contribution to standardization of semiconductor technology and equipment through JEDEC/ONFI/SDA/UFSA/SATA. Winners of the Youth Standard Olympiad held in August and the Standardization Excellent Results Contest held in October also received prizes at the ceremony.
