Keynote Speech

Sustainable Wood Utilization Policy in Korea after 50 years of Reforestation

• Dr. Eunsik Park is the Minister of the Korea Forest Service (KFS), a position he has held since February 2026. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in forest science and policy, Minister Park is a renowned expert in both domestic and international forestry affairs.
  He holds a Ph.D., an M.S., and a B.S. in Forest Resources from Seoul National University, forming a solid academic foundation for his leadership. Before his appointment as Minister, he served as the Deputy Minister and the Director General of the Forest Industry and Policy Bureau at KFS, where he played a pivotal role in shaping Korea’s sustainable forest management strategies.
  Minister Park also possesses extensive global experience, having served as the Vice Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and the Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at KFS. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to public service, he was awarded the Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes) in 2025. He remains committed to advancing forest restoration and climate change mitigation through international cooperation.

Wood as Cultural Heritage: Where Nature Meets Civilization

• Prof. Kim has dedicated over 30 years to Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea, following his Ph.D. from BOKU in Vienna, Austria. His research expertise lies in pathological wood anatomy, with a distinguished record of over 170 publications in peer-reviewed journals. In 2016, he authored the book Secondary Xylem Biology, published by Academic Press.
  Prof. Kim’s accomplishments have been widely recognized: he was elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS) in 1997, the Korea Academy of Science and Technology in 2002, and the Korea Academy of Sciences in 2014. His expertise has led to numerous invitations as a visiting scientist at prestigious institutions across Germany, the USA, France, Sweden, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, and China. Prof. Kim remains an active peer reviewer and has served on the editorial boards of respected scientific journals. Additionally, he has held significant leadership roles, including Coordinator of IUFRO, President of the Korean Society of Wood Science and Technology, and Organizer of the 4th Pacific Regional Wood Anatomy Conference in Gwangju, Korea.
  Rather than following a narrow scientific path, Prof. Kim broadened his influence as an academician engaged in R&D policies and higher education leadership. His tenure as President of Chonnam National University in 2008 reflects his dedication to educational innovation and the development of higher education. In recognition of his collaborative efforts with German research institutions, Prof. Kim was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit by the German government. His contributions to academia and public service were further acknowledged with his designation as a High-End Foreign Expert by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in 2014. Prof. Kim’s active engagement at the international level culminated in his election as President of the International Academy of Wood Science (2020–2023) and his honorary membership with the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) in 2024.

Wood: Nature’s Smart Material

• Dr. Tâmara “Tammy” França is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts at Mississippi State University. Originally from Pará in the Brazilian Amazon, she holds bachelor’s degrees in Wood Technology from Pará State University and in Business Administration from Metropolitana College. She earned her M.Sc. in Forest Science from the Federal University of Espírito Santo and her Ph.D. in Forest Resources from Mississippi State University (MSU). Dr. França joined SWST in 2016 as a graduate student, actively participating in the MSU SWST Student Chapter, where she now serves as faculty advisor. In 2022, she was recognized as one of the “Women Ambassadors Creating the Future of Wood Science.” Her research focuses on wood durability, preservation, and the effects of treatments on wood properties, with current emphasis on treatment effectiveness in mass-timber products. She is wife of Fred, and mother of a sweet little girl, Ana.

The Age of Wood Has Come: Are We Truly Prepared?

• Dr. Sangjun Han is the Chief Executive Officer of UNID bt+, a leading South Korean manufacturer of Medium- and High-Density Fiberboard (MDF/HDF). He is responsible for overall corporate strategy, business development, and technology-driven product innovation, with a strong focus on advancing K-Wood and carbon neutrality initiatives.
  Prior to joining UNID bt+, Dr. Han held leadership positions at UNID, where he led corporate planning, business management, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), contributing to the company’s strategic growth and global expansion.
  He has extensive expertise in MDF/HDF, flooring boards, fire-retardant materials, and sustainable forestry value chains, and has been actively engaged in carbon neutrality and climate-related initiatives within the wood-based materials industry.
  Dr. Han earned his B.S. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University in 1995. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2001, and later obtained his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2008, with dual concentrations in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing.