Korea Zinc US congressional aides visit smelter, shares in focus

By Julia Schmitt, Sector & Peer Group desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-26, 15:22.

Korea Zinc (KR7010130003) is drawing attention on Friday after South Korean media reported that U.S. congressional staff visited its Onsan smelter on June 18. The trip linked the company to critical minerals cooperation and a proposed Tennessee smelter project, according to CHOSUNBIZ and Seoul Economic Daily.

What the visit covered

CHOSUNBIZ reported that a seven-member U.S. congressional delegation, including staff from the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, visited the Onsan site. The report said the United States is pursuing Project Crucible with Korea Zinc to build a smelter in Tennessee. CHOSUNBIZ report on the Onsan visit

Seoul Economic Daily carried a similar account and said the visit aimed to assess Korea Zinc's competitiveness in critical minerals supply chains. The report also said the delegation included aides from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and military officials.

Sector angle on Friday

For international investors, the key point is Korea Zinc's role in non-ferrous metals and critical minerals processing, a segment that now carries clear geopolitical weight. The company sits in the KRX market and its share story is closely tied to industrial policy and supply chain security in South Korea and the United States.

Reuters has also described the broader metals and supply-chain backdrop in recent coverage of critical minerals, where governments are trying to secure refining capacity outside China. That context matters for Korea Zinc because its smelting assets place it inside a policy-driven segment of the market. Reuters commodities coverage

What the company sells

Korea Zinc's core business is smelting and refining non-ferrous metals, with zinc at the center of the portfolio. The company's industrial footprint also reaches materials used in battery and supply-chain applications, which helps explain its policy relevance.

Where the stock trades today

Korea Zinc shares last traded in Seoul at 1,035,000 won on 2026-06-26, 05:34 UTC, according to Investing.com Canada.

This article was produced with AI assistance and editorially reviewed. Price and company figures without guarantee; prices and dates may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions carry risks up to and including total loss.