Inaugural Address of the 16^th President

Hello, I am Seung-Young Song, a professor at Ewha Womans University and the newly elected 16th President of the Korea Green Building Council (KGBC). Thanks to your support at the presidential committee meeting, board meeting, and general assembly held last March, I have been given the honor of standing before you today. Once again, I would like to sincerely thank all executives and members. I would also like to express my deep respect and gratitude to the former presidents and staff members who have devoted themselves to the growth and development of KGBC despite many challenges.

Since its establishment in 2000, KGBC has experienced remarkable growth over nearly three decades and has become a leading organization that connects academia and industry in the field of green building. We have strengthened our green building assessment and certification capabilities in line with international standards and have continuously communicated with a wide range of experts in the green building sector. Through these efforts, we have strived to propose sustainable development strategies for architecture and urban environments, and I believe we have achieved meaningful progress.

KGBC is a government-designated certification body for Green Building Certification and Long-Life Housing Certification, as well as a review institution for energy-saving plans for eco-friendly housing. As Korea’s representative green building organization, KGBC also serves as the official Korean member of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC). In addition, KGBC has expanded its international activities and enhanced its global standing by sharing national green building certification standards, related industries, and technological trends with organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the UK’s Building Research Establishment (BRE), and representative institutions from 18 countries within the WorldGBC Asia Pacific Network.

Over the years, KGBC has worked to expand the foundation of the domestic green building industry through research, professional training, and the dissemination of industrial technologies. We publish a monthly newsletter featuring various updates and host monthly forums where participants exchange information following presentations on current issues. We also publish a quarterly journal covering major recent topics as special features. Through our standing committees, we hold the annual Green Building Day event and jointly organize the Autumn Symposium and the Eco-Friendly Building Equipment Competition with the Society of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea, thereby broadening the technological and human resource base related to green buildings. Furthermore, through our special committees, we conduct various projects including Green Building Certification Expert Training, publication of the 60-Year History of Building Environment, authorship of building environment textbooks, and Research Grant programs.

During my term, I intend not only to maintain the many projects that have already been underway, but also to continue developing them further. Alongside broader green building initiatives, there remains a strong need to expand both the technological and human-resource foundations related to passive systems, active systems, and renewable energy systems for zero-energy buildings. I also believe it is important to establish stronger technical and professional foundations for building performance evaluation. In particular, attention should be paid to energy mix strategies in preparation for the current era of high energy prices caused by recent global conflicts. First, we will discuss project plans centered on our standing committees, gather opinions, and pursue concrete implementation. In addition, we will identify important issues that have not yet been addressed and review and resolve them through our special committees. I sincerely encourage you to share any ideas, research topics, or projects you would like KGBC to pursue.

KGBC was established with the goals of contributing to the promotion and expansion of the green building industry, realizing Korea as a leading green building nation, enhancing international competitiveness, and fostering an environmentally friendly and sustainable construction culture. Throughout my term, I will make every effort to continue and further develop our major initiatives while also discovering and promoting new projects so that KGBC can successfully fulfill its founding mission. I kindly ask for your continued cooperation and warm encouragement.

Thank you.

April 2026
Seung-Young Song
16^th President Korea Green Building Council (KGBC)