Resource Recycling and Mineral Processing in Korea

Abstract

In the past few decades the major research activities in mineral processing has shifted from the traditional indust-rialized countries to various mineral producing countries such as India, South Africa, Australia, Chile, and China. The mineral processing research communities in Kbrea have faced a unique problem. The country is small (220,000 km2) and highly populated (70 million). For its sustained economic growth, the tenth world largest economy in the South Korea alone has imported virtually all of its requi-rements in mineral and energy resources. With the improv-ement of the living standard of the people, massive const-ruction of housing, roads, subways, and other social overhead capitals has helped the booming economic cycle. As one of the Tokyo Protocol countries, the reduction in CO2 production has become a big concern for the nation.