KTC, the World’s No. 1 Testing Certification Institute Leading the Way to the 4th Industrial Revolution
From Passive Obligatory Certification to Customer-Oriented Institution
Redesigned organizational structure, increased orders to KRW 210 billion, a fivefold rise
Collaborates with 72 certification bodies across 36 countries
▲ An Sung-il, KTC President
"Just another stopover before retirement..." This is a common public perception of retired high-ranking officials taking on roles as heads of public institutions. The lack of significant opposition to such views implies that few of these leaders deliver notable results.
An Sung-il, President of the Korea Testing Certification Institute (KTC), is an exception to this stereotype. As he approaches the second anniversary of his appointment next month, KTC employees unanimously praise him for transforming the organization’s DNA.
Transformation Began on Day Two
The changes began on An’s second day in office. His first directive was to avoid complacency in the mandatory certification market. KTC specializes in testing and certification across a wide range of fields, including electrical/electronic, measurement/instrumentation, medical, energy, and machinery/logistics. It also grants the KC Mark, South Korea's national certification mark.
“Since certifications are legally required, companies come to us, and we could achieve results just by waiting,” An explained. “KTC had been content with this structure, failing to explore new areas or identify growth opportunities.”
Restructuring the Organization
An restructured the organization from the ground up, moving away from service-provider-centric structures like the Conformity Assessment Center and Reliability Evaluation Center. He established 13 strategic sectors, including semiconductors, software/5G, electric vehicles, batteries, and the defense industry, each supported by specialized centers. These sectors were tasked with mapping their industry’s entire value chain and developing short-, medium-, and long-term business roadmaps.
“Shifting to a demand-driven structure benefits not just corporate clients but also allows us to evaluate industry status and international standards,” An noted. “While restructuring may seem straightforward, it creates a significant impact.”
Hands-On Leadership
A phrase An frequently emphasizes to employees is: "The answer to our challenges lies in the field." While it is impractical to personally visit all 10,000 of KTC’s clients, An actively utilizes opportunities such as industry exhibitions, conferences, and forums. KTC’s participation in these events has increased from one or two annually to 20 this year.
Through proactive outreach, KTC has secured nine major domestic projects worth KRW 210 billion since last year. Its backlog of orders has grown over fivefold from less than KRW 40 billion before An’s tenure. “Visiting companies and examining their products allows us to identify their challenges and discover business opportunities,” he stated.
Eyeing the Global Market
An’s vision now extends to the global stage. “The global testing and certification market is worth approximately $130 billion, but even the combined revenue of Korea’s top seven certification bodies barely reaches KRW 1 trillion,” he observed. “While Korea ranks among the top five or six in export and manufacturing competitiveness, and many of our companies rank within the global top 10, our certification bodies struggle to break into the top 100.”
A pressing concern is the rapid penetration of global certification bodies into Korea. “In the past, they mainly offered consulting for Korean companies’ exports. Now, they’re investing hundreds of billions of won to establish industrial testing facilities within Korea,” An warned. Without strengthening domestic certification bodies, he argues, the Korean industry faces significant risks, including technical information leaks and limited influence on global standards.
To address these challenges, KTC has established a global network with 72 certification bodies in 36 countries, bolstering its international operations.
About An Sung-il
Born in Gwangju, 1968
Bachelor’s in Public Administration, Korean National Police University
Master’s in Telecommunications Engineering, University of Colorado, USA
Passed the 35th Administrative Examination in 1991
Former Director-General for Regional Economic Policy and Assistant Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy
Appointed 5th President of KTC in January 2023