Inter-Korean factory park pushing to win ISO certifications

An inter-Korean factory park is seeking to obtain global certifications for its infrastructure as part of efforts to guarantee stable service and lure more foreign investors, the unification ministry said Tuesday.

The management committee of the Kaesong Industrial Complex is pushing to win management quality certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for the bus operating system as well as environmental management certification for the water purification and drainage service, the ministry said.

The committee's plan is based on the assessment that winning those certifications may help draw more global investors into the complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong.

To that end, the bus operator, which caters to North Korean workers commuting to the complex, plans to upgrade its service, including the bus schedule, maintenance and material management to match the ISO standards.

The water purification and drainage systems will also be upgraded in accordance with environmental requirements for the certification, according to the ministry.

The committee is planning to finish inspections of the bus operation and water systems there by October before taking steps to obtain the ISO certifications.

The joint industrial complex opened in the early 2000s as the key symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation. Currently, more than 50,000 North Koreans work at about 120 South Korean light industrial companies there.

In a bid to boost the factory zone, the two Koreas have been seeking to induce foreign investment, with one German needle maker planning to set up a business office there. (Yonhap)