Korea Testing and Research Institute Appoints New Director

The Korea Testing and Research Institute (KTR) announced the appointment of Lee Seung-ryeol as its new 23rd director. Previously the Head of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Lee brings over 30 years of experience in industrial and trade policy.

Lee began his public service career in 1997 as an administrative officer at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Throughout his tenure, he held various key positions, accumulating extensive experience in critical areas such as industrial technology development, energy policy, and international trade.

Prior to his new role at KTR, Lee served as a member of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, a presidential advisory body, and contributed to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) during his time at the Ministry, showcasing his extensive international collaboration experience.

His leadership during his time as Head of Industrial Policy is particularly noteworthy, as he led initiatives aimed at strengthening competitiveness in core industries, fostering new industries, and developing technology, which have all been rated highly, leading to his selection as KTR's head. Lee's accumulated management and planning capabilities from previous roles, including at the Planning and Budget Department, are seen as fitting for the leadership of KTR, which consists of 14 regional offices, 13 support units, and eight overseas organizations with over 1,300 personnel.

Looking forward, Lee plans to leverage his experience in the Ministry's Industry AX (AI Transformation) policies and the M.AX Alliance to proactively establish testing and certification infrastructure for future strategic industries such as robotics, defense, bio, and semiconductors.

Additionally, he aims to expand KTR's global testing and certification business, utilizing his international and collaborative experience to address overseas certifications and inter-country technology regulations. Strengthening capabilities in energy and carbon neutrality testing and evaluation will also be a priority.

In his inaugural address, Lee emphasized his commitment to ensure that KTR fulfills its social responsibilities while being recognized globally as an innovative, AI-driven global technology service specialist.