2026 TWMT International Technical Workshop: Advancing Mass Timber Construction in Korea
On September 18, 2026, Canada Wood Korea (CWK), together with ITCC-Dankook University and the Architectural Institute of Korea (AIK), hosted the 2026 Tall Wood and Mass Timber (TWMT) International Technical Workshop at the AIK Seminar Room in Seoul.
The workshop brought together architects, engineers, builders, manufacturers, researchers and timber industry professionals to discuss developments in tall wood, mass timber and hybrid timber construction. A total of 158 participants registered, reflecting growing interest in the use of timber in medium- and large-scale buildings in Korea.
International Experience and Korean Practice
The program featured four presentations covering urban timber architecture, Canadian mass timber projects, fire and acoustic performance, and market development.
Eunmi Lee, Vice Chair of the Timber Architecture Special Committee of the Korean Institute of Architects and Principal Architect at Erae Architects, opened with “Nonhyeon-dong Office Building: A New Decision-Making Framework for Urban Architecture.” Using an urban timber project as a case study, she discussed how timber can be considered alongside design, cost, construction and other project requirements.
Yury Kulikov, Partner and Structural Engineer at DIALOG, followed with “Mass Timber in Canada: From Innovation to Reality.” Drawing on Canadian and international projects, he showed how mass timber has moved from experimental applications into mainstream construction. The presentation offered practical lessons for Korea as the industry begins to consider larger and more complex timber buildings.
The third session was presented by Joseph Park, Chief Executive Officer of Zess and a fire and acoustic consultant. He focused on the development of two-hour fire-resistance certification for timber wall and floor assemblies, together with acoustic performance certification for multi-storey timber buildings.
These are particularly important issues in Korea. Fire resistance and floor-impact sound requirements remain major technical hurdles for using wood systems in multi-family and mid-rise construction.
The final presentation was delivered by Ki-wook Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Gravity Inc., the Korean partner of Mercer Mass Timber. He reviewed global mass timber trends and emerging applications in Korea, linking international developments with opportunities being explored by Korean architects, builders, developers and manufacturers.
From Potential to Practical Application
The workshop also reflected a change in the way timber construction is being discussed in Korea.
The conversation is becoming less about whether larger timber buildings are possible and more about how they can be delivered under normal Korean building conditions. Fire resistance, floor acoustics, approvals, prefabrication and construction detailing are moving to the centre of the discussion. These may be less visible than landmark timber buildings, but they are what determine whether a building system can move from a demonstration project into regular use.
The workshop offered a useful snapshot of a market that remains at an early stage, but is beginning to ask more practical questions about where mass timber, hybrid systems and other forms of wood construction may fit.