Gold Tower Industrial Medal recipient Lee Myung-su of Jinyoung Oil Seal
Lee Myung-su, chief executive of Jinyoung Oil Seal, has been awarded the Gold Tower Industrial Medal for leading the drive toward technological self-reliance in oil seal manufacturing. Lee is also credited with advancing the global components industry through AI-driven manufacturing innovation.
Based in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, Jinyoung Oil Seal produces oil seals for automobiles and home appliances. The components prevent lubricant leakage and protect mechanical equipment, and are used across a wide range of applications including automotive parts, home appliances and industrial machinery.
Lee spearheaded the development of proprietary core oil seal technology, enabling South Korea's oil seal industry to break free from its dependence on advanced foreign firms. Through the development of high-performance, high-durability products, the company now supplies major domestic manufacturers — including Hyundai Motor, Kia, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics — as well as 27 overseas companies, establishing itself as a key supplier in global parts supply chains.
Lee also formed a dedicated production innovation team that helped earn the company a spot on South Korea's K-Smart Lighthouse Factory list, while pushing forward manufacturing reforms including robotic automation to boost productivity and strengthen competitiveness. The company further expanded into next-generation technologies, developing a magnetic encoder module for humanoid robots and a mecanum wheel for autonomous mobile robots — efforts recognized as contributing to the technological advancement of the domestic components industry and laying the groundwork for future growth.
Beyond its business achievements, Jinyoung Oil Seal has consistently treated social responsibility as a core corporate value since its founding in 1991. Since 2004, the company has made regular donations to support underprivileged neighbors and social welfare organizations in the region, with cumulative contributions surpassing 400 million won ($299,000).
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