The designation of national core technologies for two smelting technologies, including Korea Zinc's "Antimony" metal manufacturing technology, is speeding up. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 27th, the Ministry of Industry and Energy's steel committee is deliberating on whether to designate Korea Zinc smelting technology as a national core technology. If the expert committee concludes the designation in the middle of next month, the Trade and Security Administration of the Ministry of Industry will deliberate on it later. When the deliberation by the Trade Security Administration is completed, the actual registration is expected to take place in May to June.

Earlier in November last year, Korea Zinc submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Industry to designate two of its smelting technologies as national core technologies. The two smelting technologies are antimony metal manufacturing technology using septum electrolysis technology and red iron in zinc sulfate solution.

After the government ruled that the manufacturing technology of the high-nickel secondary battery precursor was a national core technology, it applied for the designation of smelting technology as a national core technology. It was interpreted as a move to prevent Youngpoong and MBK Partners from attempting to sell Korea Zinc in installments during management disputes. For companies with national core technologies, the government has the authority to approve acquisitions and mergers of foreign companies.

The two technologies that Korea Zinc applied for this time are not technologies that the government previously designated and managed as national core technologies. For this reason, if designated as a national core technology, Korea Zinc must go through an additional step to determine whether its technology falls under this category.

[Reporter Shin Yukyung]