Interviewee. Myungse Pang CEO of Junglim CM
Junglim CM, formerly a division within Junglim Architecture, became an independent department before spinning off in 2023. In 2024, it relocated to Yeongdeungpo Times Square, marking the start of its journey as an independent Junglim CM. This move was made to actively respond to the expanding CM market, driven by the growing importance of managing various risks within the construction industry. CEO Myungse Pang, who has led Junglim CM since its founding in 2023 after overseeing CM operations since 2018, joined Junglim Architecture in 1990 and has consistently spearheaded the company’s new challenges. Mirroring his attitude of never resting on his laurels, Junglim CM also aims for a higher level of total service CM. This goes beyond simple supervision, leveraging technical expertise to enhance architectural quality while reducing project costs and shortening construction schedules.
It has been over 30 years since I joined Junglim Architecture. I am recognized as a pioneer who spearheaded the company’s new challenges.
Looking back, it seems like a continuous series of challenges. When I joined as a design engineer but was transferred to the planning department, or when I became head of the residential division—a new business area at the time—or when I entered the completely new field of CM, all of these roles felt like I didn’t meet the required qualifications or capabilities, or the business itself was still unclear. I had to learn and adapt to handle the tasks assigned to me. Through this process, I developed the ability to analyze external environments and understand business trends. During the construction process, I learned to grasp the designer’s intent and propose solutions for better quality. It was my proactive approach to change that brought me to where I am today.
The Role and Necessity of CM
Under the Construction Industry Framework Act, CM has become a mandatory requirement, leading to the perception that CM generally remains confined to the statutory supervision role. How is the role of CM evolving today, and what approach does the CEO emphasize through Junglim CM?
The primary role of supervision was to inspect and ensure construction documents were properly implemented on-site. This can easily become passive. However, in construction sites where scale and expertise are expanding daily, CM plays a crucial role in determining direction at every moment. The essence of CM lies in engaging in every stage of construction to ensure the project is executed well. It requires predicting where risks may arise and proactively addressing them. The CM team must collaborate with the design team from the planning stage, developing strategies and managing the entire construction project.
Thanks to that approach, the CM headquarters, which started with a small team, grew into Junglim CM with 500 members within 15 years. What projects elevated the role and status of CM at Junglim Architects??
The construction of the National Baekdudaegan Arboretum, a 240 billion won project implemented from 2010 to 2017, served as a crucial turning point. The design was handled by Companies S and D, and we participated as the design project management team. At the time, the supervision site was extremely passive, following conventional practices. Facing this large-scale project, I insisted that the design project management team must participate from the very start of the design documentation phase. This was an uncommon proposal at construction sites where other companies were handling the design. After months of training to find the optimal materials and systems within the budget, we achieved a construction cost estimate accuracy of 100% ±5% by the mid-design stage. This ultimately satisfied the clients, the Korea Forest Service and the Public Procurement Service. Consequently, Junglim CM, which started with design project management on the National Baekdu Daegan Arboretum project, also became involved in construction project management.
Another significant turning point was the KOICA project, which marked the beginning of our overseas ODA work. I participated as the team leader in constructing a 500-pyeong (about 1,650㎡) sewing vocational training center in Haiti, which had suffered a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. During this time, experiencing various CM sites in different countries made the role of CM, which I had previously only vaguely imagined, become clear to me. The connection formed with KOICA then led to projects in Latin America and Africa. Overseas ODA projects expanded into EDCF projects, becoming a crucial pillar of Junglim CM’s business.
Strengths and Differentiators of Junglim CM
What is your differentiation strategy from competitors? Also, what are Junglim CM’s current strengths, and are there actions to support them?
Junglim CM’s parent brand, Junglim Architecture, has built a solid foundation through its accumulated expertise and unwavering commitment to creating greater social value. This legacy serves as a strong umbrella for the newly launched Junglim CM. Junglim Architecture, which has shaped Korea’s architectural landscape for over half a century, possesses accumulated know-how across all construction project phases—from planning and design to construction and post-construction management.
Above all, Junglim CM is renowned as a company that rigorously adheres to fundamentals and principles. Having supervised the large-scale 6,700-unit Gaepo Jugong 1 Complex, completed last December, Junglim CM underwent over 100 external inspections last year amid the LH scandal, successfully completing them without issue.
Simultaneously, Junglim CM believes it must play a leading role in driving the advancement of CM in Korea, not just its own development. This is also why we published the 『CM Manual Guide』 this year, coinciding with World CM Day. By publicly sharing manuals that other companies typically keep confidential and circulate internally, we aim to enhance industry transparency and foster a shift in perception about CM. This practice, transcending industry norms, brings greater value than any benefits gained through special favors. It embodies the mindset Junglim Architecture has strived to learn and uphold over the past 35 years.
Earlier this year, Junglim CM announced its strategic direction to focus its capabilities on the BBC (Battery, Bio, Semiconductor) industrial facilities sector. What preparations are you making to realize this?
The battery, bio, and semiconductor industries represent new market frontiers where Junglim CM is persistently knocking on doors, as they have high market barriers. Given the high technical demands of these sites, we also require significant preparation. To strengthen our CM technical capabilities, we established Junglim CM’s Technology Business Division, originating from the Junglim Architecture Technology Research Institute. We are commercializing innovative technologies like BIM, AI, and drones for construction projects and actively introducing them into CM sites.
We also aim to strengthen the service aspect centered on the customer, which is the essence of CM. CM’s customers are not just the clients. The project managers responsible for construction on-site are also customers in the same boat as us. We are establishing a Customer Value Center equipped with a system for organic communication with the field, enabling the field and headquarters to move as one.
Finally, I’m curious about the unique culture of Junglim Architecture that you are determined to pass on to the next generation, and your personal commitment to this endeavor.
My calling is to build people and enable the organization to function organically for the healthy sustainability of Junglim Architecture, thereby exerting a positive influence on society. I will do my utmost to fulfill this calling.
Junglim People & Works, excerpted from 『N.3 Junglim Spirit』
Myungse Pang. CEO of Junglim CM. He majored in architecture at Sungkyunkwan University and joined Junglim Architecture in 1990. He completed an MBA program at the Sungkyunkwan University Graduate School of Business, the ‘Housing Lecture’ program of the New Architects Association, the Future Strategy Program in Urban Environment at Seoul National University, and the Korea Commercial Arbitration Board Academy. After working in the Design Division, Planning Office, Residential Division, CM Division, and overseas projects, he currently serves as CEO of Junglim CM. Drawing on his diverse experience in architecture—including design, planning, the Residential Division (focused on new business), CM, and ODA project management—he has a strong interest in realizing sustainable architecture.
