The government is pushing to newly designate the 'Hematite method technology' for refining high-purity zinc among the zinc smelting technologies of Korea Zinc as a national core technology.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 6th that it has issued a public notice regarding the amendment of the 'Notification on the Designation of National Core Technology, etc.' to newly designate three cases, including the Hematite method technology, as national core technologies.
The ministry designates and manages technologies important to national security and the national economy as 'national core technologies' according to Article 9 of the 'Act on the Prevention and Protection of Industrial Technology Leakage.'
If designated as a corporation holding national core technology, foreign corporations must obtain government approval in the future for acquisition due to economic security reasons.
The Hematite method technology is a process technology that refines high-purity zinc by removing impurities from zinc ore.
Regarding the Hematite method technology, the ministry noted, 'There is a need to designate it as a national core technology due to the technology's economic and environmental superiority and the security necessity of reducing dependence on foreign sources.'
In addition to the Hematite method, the ministry plans to designate MLCC (multilayer ceramic capacitor) design, process, and manufacturing technologies, along with SAR (synthetic aperture radar) payload production and signal processing technology as national core technologies.
Regarding the MLCC design, process, and manufacturing technologies, the ministry explained that it is pursuing new designation to maintain technological superiority and prevent overseas leakage, while the SAR payload production and signal processing technology is being pursued for new designation due to its importance in defense.