Wooden Architecture Takes Center Stage at Korea’s 2025 Green Building Day
On April 18, 2025, the Korea Green Building Council (KGBC) hosted its annual Green Building Day at POSCO Tower Yeoksam in Seoul, placing a spotlight on wooden architecture as a core strategy for carbon neutrality. With growing policy momentum, including the proposed Wooden Architecture Promotion Act (목조건축 활성화법) and recent regulatory reforms, this year’s event underscored Korea’s commitment to green building solutions — and the rising role of timber in that future.
The event was divided into two parts: an awards ceremony recognizing leadership in sustainable building, followed by a technical seminar exploring the theme “Wooden Architecture and Carbon Neutrality.” Industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and architects gathered to share insights on how wooden construction can help Korea meet its 2050 net-zero goals.
Regulatory Tailwinds for Timber
A central focus of the event was Korea’s recent policy shift to lift height and floor area restrictions for wooden buildings, paving the way for broader adoption of mass timber in mid- to high-rise construction. Professor Kim Soo-min, Chair of the Green Building Day Committee, emphasized that wooden buildings are no longer niche or symbolic. “They are becoming a mainstream green building solution,” he noted.
This policy environment is further strengthened by the newly proposed Wooden Architecture Promotion Act, which will provide a formal legal foundation to expand timber construction across Korea. Several speakers highlighted this act as a potential game-changer for unlocking investment, innovation, and training in the sector.
Sharing Global and Local Best Practices
The Green Building Seminar featured four technical presentations that brought together local and international perspectives:
- Tai Jeong, Country Director and Technical Director of Canada Wood Korea, presented the newly released NLT Design & Construction Guide Version 2.0, introducing Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) as a practical mass timber option well-suited to Korea’s construction environment. Jeong also showcased real-world applications of NLT from both Canada and Korea.
- Bae Ki-cheol, Chief Architect of IDS Architects, shared insights on spatial design and the architectural potential of trees, drawing from his leadership in Korea’s tall timber projects.
- Choi Sam-yeong, of Kawa Architects, discussed his work converting public buildings to wooden architecture in Jinju City, highlighting how policy, procurement, and design culture must align for meaningful change.
- Ryu Kobayashi, CEO of RYOUPLUS (Japan), brought a regional perspective, addressing misconceptions about wooden architecture and sharing lessons from Japan’s growing mid-rise timber sector. His participation was supported by Canada Wood Japan.
Cross-Sector Collaboration Driving Change
Throughout the event, speakers from KGBC, the Architectural Institute of Korea, and academic institutions emphasized the need for cross-sector cooperation to accelerate Korea’s green transition. The seminar also celebrated the 25th anniversary of KGBC, reinforcing its leadership in promoting green building practices nationwide.
With growing government support, new technical standards, and international collaboration, the outlook for timber construction in Korea has never been stronger. Canada Wood remains committed to supporting Korea’s journey by sharing expertise, advancing codes and standards, and facilitating industry exchange.