Lee Kyung-ho, standing vice chairman of the Korea Iron & Steel Association (from left), Yoo Hwan-gu, acting head of the road division at Korea Expressway Corporation, and Seo Sang-yeon, chairman of the Korea Ascon Industry Cooperative Federation, pose for a photo. [Korea Iron & Steel Association]
Lee Kyung-ho, standing vice chairman of the Korea Iron & Steel Association (from left), Yoo Hwan-gu, acting head of the road division at Korea Expressway Corporation, and Seo Sang-yeon, chairman of the Korea Ascon Industry Cooperative Federation, pose for a photo. [Korea Iron & Steel Association]

The Korea Iron & Steel Association signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday with Korea Expressway Corporation and the Korea Ascon Industry Cooperative Federation to promote the use of steelmaking slag in eco-friendly asphalt paving, the association announced Wednesday.

The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Kyung-ho, standing vice chairman of the Korea Iron & Steel Association, Yoo Hwan-gu, acting head of the road division at Korea Expressway Corporation, and Seo Sang-yeon, chairman of the Korea Ascon Industry Cooperative Federation, along with other officials.

The association said the MOU was aimed at building a cooperative framework to promote eco-friendly highway maintenance through the use of steelmaking slag aggregate. The three parties plan to carry out the agreement through a joint working group focused on expanding the supply of high-quality steelmaking slag, revising industry standards for asphalt mixtures, and building a track record of slag-based highway maintenance projects.

Under the MOU, the three organizations will cooperate in spreading steelmaking slag asphalt concrete paving technology, establishing quality management systems for steelmaking slag aggregate and asphalt mixtures, and applying slag-based mixtures to highway maintenance sites.

Building on the agreement, the three parties plan to accumulate a record of steelmaking slag recycling in highway maintenance and contribute to a circular economy through the gradual improvement of slag quality and expanded use.

"Steelmaking slag, with its superior physical properties, can serve as a substitute for first-grade natural aggregate in highway maintenance," Lee said. "The association will make active efforts to ensure the production and stable supply of high-quality steelmaking slag aggregate."

Meanwhile, the Korea Iron & Steel Association has been running a range of activities to raise public attention to the steel industry, including recently hosting the "2026 Steel AI Video Advertisement Contest."


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