Recently, major Korean conglomerates have been increasingly unveiling modular structures. Beyond the advantages of cost reduction and shorter construction timelines through mass production, and the minimization of material waste via standardization, expectations for the market's growth are soaring as the carbon reduction effects of modular construction become more widely recognized. The government also plans to establish cost estimation standards within the year to further bolster the commercialization of modular methods.
Based in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, PLANM is a company that has garnered significant attention, having constructed 1,550 eco-friendly school modular classrooms across 17 provinces nationwide last year alone. Through continuous R&D, PLANM is expanding its reach beyond schools to medical facilities, hotels, and residential buildings. We visited the company as it prepares to lead the global market by showcasing the diverse versatility of its modular solutions.
Confirming the Growth Potential of the Global Modular Market
The First Eco-Friendly Modular Specialist to Successfully Complete School Projects in Korea
PLANM, a leader in eco-friendly modular construction, provides a comprehensive "Total Solution" covering the entire modular lifecycle—from design and development to production, delivery, and maintenance. CEO Lee Min-gyu, who has built years of experience and expertise in the modular business both domestically and internationally, led the company to become the first in Korea to successfully complete a modular school project. Since its founding in April 2020, PLANM has achieved remarkable success, surpassing ₩30 billion in revenue within its first two years, driven by a highly skilled professional workforce. Last year alone, the company contributed significantly to educational infrastructure by constructing eco-friendly modular classrooms for 2,100 rooms (1,550 classes) across 17 provinces. This year, PLANM is expanding into diverse modular sectors, with an expected order backlog of ₩300 billion.
“I first encountered the modular method while managing new business planning at a steel company. At that time, much like the recent past, the domestic market had not yet gained momentum. Modular construction was lagging in price competitiveness and was mostly used for special purposes or pilot projects. However, seeing overseas cases where modular had already become a standard architectural method gave me a glimpse of its true potential.”
Modular construction is a technique where major parts of a building are pre-fabricated in a factory as modular units, then transported and assembled on-site. In 2015, a Chinese company set a record by pre-fabricating a 57-story building and completing its on-site assembly in just 19 days. Modular structures can also be found in Korea; for instance, the media housing for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics was built using this method. However, due to lower cost-competitiveness compared to concrete buildings, it struggled to take deep root in the domestic market. Amidst this environment, CEO Lee spotted opportunities abroad, and in 2012, he successfully managed Korea's first modular export for miner housing in Russia and Australia. Lee explained that he built his expertise as a Project Manager (PM), overseeing the entire export process back when the modular method was still a foreign concept in Korea.
“Confident that the modular market would grow, I analyzed domestic demand and identified the school market. About 25% of the 25,000 elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide were facing aging facility issues. Schools, which expanded rapidly during the baby boomer era, had never been able to undergo proper modernization projects due to various logistical hurdles.”
Improving outdated school environments typically requires more than six months of construction. Even considering summer and winter breaks, modernization was repeatedly delayed due to students' right to learn, the required number of school days, and safety concerns. CEO Lee intuitively felt that modular construction was the ultimate alternative to these practical problems. Recently, the government even mentioned "modular housing" as a relocation measure for the redevelopment of aging planned cities, including First-Generation New Towns. The fact that Korea is approaching an era of $40,000 per capita income was another factor in his decision to start the business. As more people pursue a higher quality of life—such as owning second homes—rather than just focusing on basic livelihood, modular architecture is no longer an option that can be postponed. Furthermore, rising raw material prices have brought traditional Reinforced Concrete (RC) methods and steel-based modular methods to a point of parity in terms of cost-competitiveness. With this vision, CEO Lee teamed up with his colleague, Vice President Song Kyung-sub, to found PLANM.
“There was a lot of opposition when I announced I was quitting a stable job to start a business. However, my experience leading modular exports gave me unwavering confidence in the market. The emphasis on safety and ESG management is also a driving force. The construction industry is rapidly shifting toward 'Off-Site Construction' (OSC) to ensure safety on the ground.”
Growing with the “Green Smart Future School” Project: Expanding Beyond Education into Medical, Hospitality, and MoreThe school modular market is emerging as a new growth engine, driven by the Ministry of Education’s “Green Smart Future School” project. This long-term initiative aims to build the infrastructure necessary for a future-oriented curriculum, with the goal of remodeling or reconstructing 2,835 school buildings (all older than 40 years) between 2021 and 2025. By providing diverse educational environments, the project seeks to nurture creative and convergent talent. The modular market is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting this policy, especially as a solution for overcrowded classrooms in new cities and a provider of comfortable, safe learning spaces. PLANM has garnered significant attention by successfully leading these modernization projects. Notably, at the request of the Ministry of Education, PLANM’s solutions were registered as "Innovative Products" by the Public Procurement Service (PPS), proving the company’s technological ingenuity.“In any organization, there are always pioneers. While officials at the Ministry of Education were deeply concerned about aging facilities, they encountered our products and became convinced they were the right alternative. They even proactively suggested a ‘fast-track’ process to the PPS to speed up field application. Our first project was Jungsan Elementary School in Yeongjongdo, Incheon. A school with 700 students saw its construction completed in just 15 days—without a speck of dust. From there, word of mouth spread, and schools across the country began seeking our solutions.”PLANM’s achievements in the medical sector are equally impressive. After exporting mobile PCR modules and developing a 300-bed mobile hospital, the company’s technical prowess was recognized as it was selected for the POSCO INNOVILT product line. Within a short period, PLANM has achieved remarkable growth, earning Venture Company certification, being named a Top 10 Innovation Product Seller, and being selected as a representative Korean company for “WEB SUMMIT 2022” (supported by KODIT and KOTRA). CEO Lee Min-gyu shared his plans to actively expand PLANM’s unique technology and sophisticated designs beyond schools into residential, medical, and leisure sectors.Following this rapid growth, PLANM was honored with the Promised Startup Award at the Chungbuk Small & Medium Business Awards last December. This was a direct result of high scores in modular technology and management excellence. CEO Lee credited the award to the safety of their eco-friendly products, creative ideas, and the harmony fostered through constant communication with employees. He expressed his honor in being selected among many outstanding regional companies and shared his ambition to foster an innovative construction environment while growing as a role model for the community.“Daeso-myeon, Eumseong-gun, where PLANM’s headquarters is located, is the heart of Chungbuk. we settled here because of its potential for regional growth and its status as Korea's premier logistics hub.”PLANM’s current 2,000-pyeong site (approx. 6,600 $m^2$) already houses Korea’s first factory dedicated exclusively to school modular units. CEO Lee unveiled a blueprint to expand this to 50,000 pyeong (approx. 165,000 $m^2$) to create the world’s best “Modular Park.” This vision includes a theme park where children can experience the modular manufacturing process and a standardized production system that offers flexible employment opportunities for job seekers—effectively establishing modular construction as both a superior technology and a new cultural staple.
