Bae Jo-ung, chairman of the Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation [Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation]
Bae Jo-ung, chairman of the Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation [Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation]

Bae rules out run for Korea Federation of SMEs chief, reversing 'wait-and-see' stance

'I said from the outset I would not run,' he says, signaling intent to seek another term leading ready-mix concrete federation

Plans to focus on industry challenges including construction slump and on-site batch plant expansion

Bae Jo-ung, chairman of the Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative Federation, said he will not run in the election for the 28th chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, scheduled for February next year. Instead, Bae said he intends to seek another term leading the ready-mix concrete federation and focus on addressing the survival challenges facing the industry amid a prolonged construction slump.

Bae made the announcement Tuesday in a phone interview ahead of the "2026 Ready-Mixed Concrete Quality Management Core Personnel Competency Enhancement Conference," held at Hotel ICC in Daejeon. Asked whether he would enter the race for the federation's top post, Bae said, "I said from the outset I would not run." He also addressed his earlier remarks from October, when he had described his position as "wait-and-see," saying, "When I said I was watching and waiting, that was just my own private thinking."

Bae said he plans to serve another term as chairman of the ready-mix concrete federation rather than pursue the Korea Federation of SMEs leadership. "There is still much left undone at the federation," he said. "Next year there are product designation issues and many complicated matters. It is quite hard for the industry to make ends meet."

Behind Bae's decision to seek reelection lies the prolonged construction downturn and the financial difficulties gripping the ready-mix concrete sector. He singled out the growing installation of on-site batch plants by large construction companies as a key concern, warning that the trend could reduce supply volumes available to smaller ready-mix concrete firms.

"In North Jeolla Province, there are 80 ready-mix concrete companies even though the population is under 2 million," Bae said. "The practice of construction companies installing their own on-site batch plants to produce concrete that nearby local firms could otherwise supply needs to be addressed." He added that protecting the market access of smaller ready-mix concrete companies was essential: "The industry can only survive if we stop construction companies from doing whatever they please."

Bae also identified strengthening quality competitiveness as an ongoing priority for the federation. "Even though the ready-mix concrete industry is in a difficult situation, quality must be properly managed," he said. "Through education like this, we need to ensure that the products made by small ready-mix concrete companies earn a reputation for high quality."

Bae currently serves as senior vice chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs and had long been mentioned as a potential candidate for the top post. In an interview on Oct. 14, he said he was "watching and waiting" on whether to run, adding that "leading a large organization like the Korea Federation of SMEs requires experience and seasoning." He had continued to be cited as someone who had left the door open to a run, but his latest remarks make his decision not to enter the race unambiguous.

The election for the next Korea Federation of SMEs chairman is set for Feb. 2. Among those currently mentioned as leading candidates are Kang Dong-han, chairman of the Korea Forging Industry Cooperative; Park Jang-seon, chairman of the Korea Printing Industry Cooperative Federation; Shim Seung-il, chairman of the Korea High Pressure Gas Industry Cooperative Federation; Lee Min-hyeong, chairman of the Jungbu Hume Pipe Business Cooperative; and Lee Jae-gwang, chairman of the Korea Electric Energy Industry Cooperative.


hong@heraldcorp.com