Professor Hee-Jun Park (Department of Housing and Interior Design, College of Human Ecology) developed the 'Technology for Manufacturing Functional Building Materials with Improved Moisture-Regulating Properties,' which won the Bronze Prize at the 2021 Seoul International Invention Fair held recently.

This year's 40th Seoul International Invention Fair, hosted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and organized by the Korea Invention Promotion Association, is the country's largest integrated intellectual property exhibition. It was held from the 1st to the 4th alongside the 'Invention and Patent Exhibition' and the 'Trademark & Design Rights Exhibition.'

This patented technology, owned by Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Industry-University Cooperation, was developed under the Korea Forest Service's 'High-Value-Added Advanced Technology Development Project for Wood Resources.' After patent registration and Technology Transfer, JBNU is promoting the new industrialization of wood resources.

In May, for the first time for a functional building material with moisture absorption and release functions, it received National Green Technology Certification, recognizing it as an eco-friendly technology that minimizes greenhouse gases and pollutants.

In on-site judging by a panel of academic experts, the technology was praised as a stable and high-performing product whose moisture absorption and release amounts far exceeded the standards, combined with eco-friendly elements.

In fact, under the general 'Standards for Health-Friendly Housing Construction,' the 12-hour average moisture absorption and release is 65 g/m² or more, and under the National Green Technology standard it is 85 g/m² or more. Professor Park's technology achieves more than 100 g/m², which is far superior.

If this technology becomes widely commercialized, it is expected to contribute to indoor humidity control in Korea, where the four seasons are distinct and seasonal temperature and humidity differences are large, thereby making a significant contribution to public health and the environment.
  
Professor Hee-Jun Park said, 'I am pleased that, following the National Green Technology Certification in May, the product's excellence and eco-friendly aspects have been highly evaluated once again and that the value of the patented technology has been recognized. I will strive to expand the applications of wood through diverse technology development and to advance them into high value-added new industries.'