The 2021 General Meeting, Steering Committee, and Research Presentation were held by President Kim Hwangyu of the Ship Production Technology Research Committee at the Hotel Hyundai at Lahan in Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, for two days from November 18 (Thursday) to 19 (Friday). The Research Presentation was held with the strict quarantine rules for COVID-19 taken and participated by 120 experts, who specialize in ship production technology from relevant Korean major shipbuilding companies, industries, academies, and research institutes, enabling a platform for creative and productive academic exchange. The Research Committee, which is composed of five subcommittees, such as production system, manufacturing technology, automation, welding, and hull painting, proceeded with the research presentation for each subcommittee, and 38 presentations, including the concept of the field application of the 4th industrial revolution and the smart shipyard construction that are lately being paid attention to in the industry, were delivered. This provided us with an open forum to profoundly discuss on the development direction of the shipbuilding and marine industries in the future, and President Kim Hwangyu expressed his thoughts in the opening remarks, saying, "As China's increasing attempts to overtake Korea with its cheaper labor cost become imminent, the advancement of Korea's production technologies, therefore, becomes critical, and I hope that this moment will be the place for sharing information and that more expert groups and production technology experts from the relevant industries, academies, and research institutes interact with each other to respond to this matter." In addition, they invited Prof. Song Hacheol of Mokpo National University, for the special session on the "Policy Issues of Jeollanam-do for the Development of Shipbuilding and Marine Industries."

This Research Presentation attracted more participants than expected because of the knowledge exchange, making for a successful finale. The presentations and open forums were also conducted under such passionate exchange of ideas.