In the past, MUSUN TECHWIN dominated over 70% of the domestic electrical equipment market, reaching the height of its success. However, internal challenges severely impacted the company’s operations, leading to the leakage of proprietary technology. As a result, market trust declined rapidly, and the competitive gap between MUSUN TECHWIN and its rivals narrowed.
In 2012, during a period of great difficulty for the company, CEO Lee Kyung-gam took over management and focused on resolving internal issues. To restore confidence in MUSUN TECHWIN, he actively promoted the company by participating in domestic and international expos, increasing external visibility.
From Public Service to Business Leadership
Lee Kyung-gam previously worked as a government official in the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He shared, "I have always been deeply interested in disaster safety products, even during my time as a public servant. After retirement, I was introduced to MUSUN TECHWIN through an acquaintance. After careful consideration, I decided to invest in the company and take on the CEO role."
His vision for MUSUN TECHWIN is to establish it as a globally recognized manufacturer. To achieve this, he prioritizes product quality above all else. One of his first major decisions as CEO was to establish an in-house corporate research institute, investing aggressively in R&D.
Unlike many other companies in the industry that collaborate with external research facilities, MUSUN TECHWIN chose to operate its own research institute—a rare move at the time. Many skeptics questioned the feasibility of such a large investment, warning it might be too risky. However, the research institute’s efforts resulted in over KRW 2 billion (USD 1.5 million) in revenue last year alone, proving the effectiveness of Lee's investment strategy.
Commitment to Quality and Global Recognition
CEO Lee firmly believes that "Quality is a promise to our customers. To enhance product quality, establishing a dedicated research institute was essential." He emphasized that through continuous R&D efforts, MUSUN TECHWIN has successfully developed new products that are now gaining recognition in overseas markets.
Furthermore, Lee highlighted the research institute’s role in securing international certifications for export, stating, "Our institute manages not only technology development but also various certifications required for exports. We have successfully obtained KFI and KC certifications in Korea, as well as Japan’s GIS certification."
Expanding into the Global Market
With successful product innovation achieved through the research institute, MUSUN TECHWIN is now actively expanding into international markets.
Until now, the company had only engaged in indirect exports, supplying electrical components to fire truck manufacturers or selling products in small quantities to overseas buyers. However, starting this year, MUSUN TECHWIN has set a new goal: to establish its brand presence in the global market.
CEO Lee stated, "Specialized equipment such as lanterns is widely used not only by firefighters but also by police and military personnel. We are initially targeting the Southeast Asian market and are also in discussions with local buyers in Latin America, including Mexico, where security concerns are high."
According to Lee, foreign buyers have responded positively, citing MUSUN TECHWIN's high-quality products and strong price competitiveness as key advantages. Additionally, the global popularity of K-pop and the Korean Wave (Hallyu) has indirectly benefited the company’s international branding.
Challenges and Hopes for Industry Standards
Despite COVID-19 challenges impacting the export market, MUSUN TECHWIN continued communicating with international buyers online. Lee shared, "This year, we are preparing extensively so that by next year, we can focus on both domestic civilian sales and international exports."
Recently, Korea’s National Fire Agency has been accelerating the development of standardized specifications for firefighting equipment, covering approximately 60 product categories. Many of MUSUN TECHWIN’s products are included in this initiative.
While some companies view standardization negatively, CEO Lee welcomes the change. However, he also hopes for improvements in the government’s procurement system.
He explained, "Even when companies develop high-quality products through advanced technology, they still face unfair competition in government tenders, where the lowest bid system allows cheap Chinese products to dominate. Many Korean manufacturers are suffering because of this system."
In the past, MUSUN TECHWIN dominated over 70% of the domestic electrical equipment market, reaching the height of its success. However, internal challenges severely impacted the company’s operations, leading to the leakage of proprietary technology. As a result, market trust declined rapidly, and the competitive gap between MUSUN TECHWIN and its rivals narrowed.
In 2012, during a period of great difficulty for the company, CEO Lee Kyung-gam took over management and focused on resolving internal issues. To restore confidence in MUSUN TECHWIN, he actively promoted the company by participating in domestic and international expos, increasing external visibility.
From Public Service to Business Leadership
Lee Kyung-gam previously worked as a government official in the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He shared, "I have always been deeply interested in disaster safety products, even during my time as a public servant. After retirement, I was introduced to MUSUN TECHWIN through an acquaintance. After careful consideration, I decided to invest in the company and take on the CEO role."
His vision for MUSUN TECHWIN is to establish it as a globally recognized manufacturer. To achieve this, he prioritizes product quality above all else. One of his first major decisions as CEO was to establish an in-house corporate research institute, investing aggressively in R&D.
Unlike many other companies in the industry that collaborate with external research facilities, MUSUN TECHWIN chose to operate its own research institute—a rare move at the time. Many skeptics questioned the feasibility of such a large investment, warning it might be too risky. However, the research institute’s efforts resulted in over KRW 2 billion (USD 1.5 million) in revenue last year alone, proving the effectiveness of Lee's investment strategy.
Commitment to Quality and Global Recognition
CEO Lee firmly believes that "Quality is a promise to our customers. To enhance product quality, establishing a dedicated research institute was essential." He emphasized that through continuous R&D efforts, MUSUN TECHWIN has successfully developed new products that are now gaining recognition in overseas markets.
Furthermore, Lee highlighted the research institute’s role in securing international certifications for export, stating, "Our institute manages not only technology development but also various certifications required for exports. We have successfully obtained KFI and KC certifications in Korea, as well as Japan’s GIS certification."
Expanding into the Global Market
With successful product innovation achieved through the research institute, MUSUN TECHWIN is now actively expanding into international markets.
Until now, the company had only engaged in indirect exports, supplying electrical components to fire truck manufacturers or selling products in small quantities to overseas buyers. However, starting this year, MUSUN TECHWIN has set a new goal: to establish its brand presence in the global market.
CEO Lee stated, "Specialized equipment such as lanterns is widely used not only by firefighters but also by police and military personnel. We are initially targeting the Southeast Asian market and are also in discussions with local buyers in Latin America, including Mexico, where security concerns are high."
According to Lee, foreign buyers have responded positively, citing MUSUN TECHWIN's high-quality products and strong price competitiveness as key advantages. Additionally, the global popularity of K-pop and the Korean Wave (Hallyu) has indirectly benefited the company’s international branding.
Challenges and Hopes for Industry Standards
Despite COVID-19 challenges impacting the export market, MUSUN TECHWIN continued communicating with international buyers online. Lee shared, "This year, we are preparing extensively so that by next year, we can focus on both domestic civilian sales and international exports."
Recently, Korea’s National Fire Agency has been accelerating the development of standardized specifications for firefighting equipment, covering approximately 60 product categories. Many of MUSUN TECHWIN’s products are included in this initiative.
While some companies view standardization negatively, CEO Lee welcomes the change. However, he also hopes for improvements in the government’s procurement system.
He explained, "Even when companies develop high-quality products through advanced technology, they still face unfair competition in government tenders, where the lowest bid system allows cheap Chinese products to dominate. Many Korean manufacturers are suffering because of this system."