[Chairman Han Il-ho Interview] “Without Standards, There is No Competitiveness…Urgent Need for Establishing Korean Design Codes”

2025-08-28

Han Il ho, Chairman of MAP Group, pointed to the establishment of a “national design code” as the key to enhancing the global competitiveness of Korea’s architectural design industry.

Chairman Han expressed concern that Korea’s current KS standards are difficult to apply to practical design and that failing to comply with local codes in overseas projects can lead directly to costly delays or even suspension of construction. He emphasized that thorough “code evaluation” at the outset of any international project meticulously comparing local regulations must become a fundamental procedure for managing risk.

To institutionalize such proactive measures, Han argued that Korea needs an integrated national design standard. His proposal is the creation of a “Korean Standard Code” that reorganizes international benchmarks such as the UK’s EN and the US’s US codes to fit domestic conditions, enabling consistent application worldwide. He cited India’s success in adapting British codes into its own “Indian Code” as an example of how such standards can enhance global competitiveness.

Han also outlined a concrete approach. He suggested that capable design firms across different sectors such as housing and high-tech form consortiums to win government R&D contracts, then apply the results directly to real-world projects, thereby expanding adoption across the industry. “This is no longer an issue confined to professional associations. It is a matter of national competitiveness that requires leadership from public institutions such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology,” he said.

Strengthening the practical capabilities of Korean architects must go hand in hand. Han stressed, “Domestic firms need standardized processes to be able to produce internationally recognized bid documents themselves. From the bidding and procurement stages, specifications and performance standards must be clearly defined to allow Korean firms to compete on equal terms with overseas designers.”

He further highlighted that industry-wide solidarity is essential as a first step toward establishing a Korean design code. Individual firms responding in isolation face clear limitations. “The urgent task is for professional design firms to form an alliance and create a forum for structured discussions,” Han emphasized. “Only with such a platform for solidarity can Korea develop practical alternatives to international codes and successfully establish its own standards in practice.”