The ICE Hong Kong Association (HKA) Graduates and Students (G&S) South Korea delegation 2023 obtained valuable insights about the country.
Delegates from ICE HKA G&S visited Seoul in South Korea to learn about best practices in civil engineering and smart technologies applied in the built environment.
This visit aimed to foster the exchange of ideas between professionals and students from Hong Kong and South Korea.
The group, made up of 20 delegates, visited from 22 October to 27 October 2023.
Three student prize winners were also announced:
- Clarice Liu, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Ricky Lam, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Britney Li, University of Hong Kong
Experiencing university life in South Korea
Delegates collaborated with students from Chung-Ang University (CAU) who were pursuing undergraduate and master's degrees in civil engineering.
They formed teams to develop a proposal identifying the risks associated with designing and constructing a railway tunnel and bridge in a high mountain environment.
Professor Chang-Su Shim from the school of civil and environmental engineering of CAU also delivered an engaging presentation on smart construction technologies.
Diving into rich cultural heritage
The delegates also immersed themselves in South Korea's rich cultural heritage.
They visited notable places such as Gaetgol Ecological Park, a traditional garden adorned with water features and vibrant flowers.
They also visited Nami Island, known for its peaceful coexistence between humans, animals, and trees.
Additionally, they explored Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved palace from the Joseon Dynasty.
Visiting massive infrastructure projects
The delegation had the opportunity to learn about massive infrastructure projects, particularly underground tunnel construction.
They gained insights into the Han River underground road tunnel and GTX-A Line, which used drilling, blasting and tunnel boring machine (TBM) methods.
Suwon Lee, construction manager from DL E&C as well as Seongsil Kim, senior manager from Hyundai Engineering & Construction delivered presentations on these impressive mega-scale tunnels.
During the trip, Professor Martin Smith, who served as an enthusiastic advisor and professional tutor for the whole trip, took delegates to the Paldang hydroelectric plant.
This generates electricity using flows from the northern and southern Han River in Namyangju city.
Also, delegates had the golden opportunity to explore the K-Water Sihwa Lake tidal power plant, the world’s largest tidal power installation, with a total power output capacity of 254 MW.
In Ok Choi, manager from K-Water, provided the delegates with an insightful guided tour, enhancing their understanding of tidal power generation and its significance in the renewable energy sector.
Lastly, Yongchan Kim, head of business planning, showcased the exhibition centre and operational control centre of Incheon Bridge.
The Incheon Bridge holds three world records:
- the largest marine bridge with prestressed concrete (PSC) girder using full-span launching method
- the largest pile loading test
- the largest dolphin-type ship impact protection system
Visiting the largest body of civil engineering professionals in South Korea
Delegates also visited the headquarters of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers (KSCE), the largest body of civil engineering professionals and academics in South Korea.
During this visit, they learned about KSCE, smart construction, and the Civil Engineering Leader's Network (CELeN) student chapter.
They heard from Dr Kyung Suk Kim, principal research engineer, Prof Kwan Choe Jong, committee of KSCE, and Shristi Bevinakatti, representative of CELeN.
Kevin Hui, vice chairman from ICE HKA G&S, introduced the organisation background and continuing professional development (CPD) system in Hong Kong.
For more highlights from the visit, read the delegates' study report.
