In December 2025, an Estonian delegation representing the timber, modular, and prefabricated construction sector visited South Korea to explore cooperation opportunities and introduce Estonia’s advanced expertise to the Korean market. The delegation included Mari Emmus (Harmet OÜ), Siim Leisalu (Timbeco), Martin Talts (KMT Prefab, Woodhouse Estonia Chairman of the Management Board), and Marek Roostar (Enterprise Estonia). The visit was organized with support from the Estonian Embassy and Enterprise Estonia.
Technology Seminar and Market Dialogue in the Heart of Seoul
The first day of the visit focused on the Korea–Estonia Prefabricated and Modular Timber Construction Technology Seminar, held in Seoul, which brought together leading experts and companies from both countries. The seminar was opened by Tanel Sepp, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the Republic of Korea, who highlighted the role of timber construction in the development of a sustainable urban environment.
Photo: EIS | Enterprise Estonia
The program provided an overview of South Korea’s timber and modular construction market, with presentations by, among others, ITCC and LH (Korea Land & Housing Corporation), the national land and housing development agency. On the Estonian side, Woodhouse Estonia, Timbeco, and Harmet shared their experience and case studies, presenting industrialized timber construction solutions and export expertise.
According to Siim Leisalu, the South Korean market is still at an early stage of development, but the direction is clear: “South Korea’s timber construction market is still emerging in terms of building applications, but at the national level a clear direction has been set and policies are being developed to encourage the use of wood in construction. The main objective is to reduce the environmental footprint of the construction sector.”
The seminar was attended by several key industry players, including Samsung C&T Corporation, Dujon Housing, Seoul Housing Corporation, and Gansam Human Environment & Design, as well as representatives from various public authorities. The event built on the momentum created by Estonia’s participation in Korea Build Week earlier in the year.
Visit to Dujon Housing and Practical Collaboration
On the second day, the dialogue continued at Dujon Housing’s headquarters, where the delegation explored three floors of showrooms and model homes and discussed opportunities to apply factory-produced solutions manufactured in Estonia to Dujon Housing’s standard house concepts. The focus was on concrete technical solutions and potential models for collaboration.
The visit concluded with a tour of the architecture and interior design showroom as well as full-scale model homes, offering valuable insight into the quality and ambition of South Korea’s residential construction. However, according to Leisalu, logistics and product suitability remain key considerations: “The biggest challenge in the South Korean market is transportation. Shipping full volumetric modules is very costly. In my view, the greatest potential in South Korea lies primarily in timber materials and so-called flat-pack products that can be transported using standard sea containers.”
Intervjuu Korea meedias – Eesti vaade ja ootused
One of the key highlights of the visit was an interview with a South Korean wood industry publication, providing an opportunity to showcase the strengths of Estonian timber construction and to discuss collaboration potential in the Korean market. The interview addressed national policy directions, technological solutions, and realistic export opportunities.
While the development of established market practices inevitably takes time, the involvement of national-level organizations makes a positive shift toward increased use of wood in construction a realistic prospect. Overall, the visit confirmed growing mutual interest and a strong foundation for long-term cooperation between Estonia and South Korea, particularly in the fields of timber materials, prefabricated elements, and hybrid construction solutions.