Tenn. deputy governor visits Korea Zinc as major U.S. project advances

ULSAN, South Korea, April 29 (UPI) -- The world's leading non-ferrous metal manufacturer, Korea Zinc, said Wednesday that Tennessee Deputy Gov. Stuart C. McWhorter visited its smelter in Ulsan, about 250 miles southeast of Seoul, as the firm pushes ahead with a multibillion-dollar project in the United States.

Korea Zinc said that McWhorter's visit was intended to reinforce cooperation for the successful launch of the Project Crucible, a $7.4 billion initiative to build an integrated smelter in Clarksville, Tenn.

After inspecting safety and environmental operations himself, McWhorter said that the visit had broadened his understanding of the smelting industry and heightened his expectations for the Project Crucible.

"This is a very significant project for our state, not just because of the jobs but also because of the capital investment being made," McWhorter said.

He said that the Tennessee Valley Authority can support the power supply, and investments are also being made in workforce development so that the infrastructure foundation is in place.

Expecting that the U.S. facility will strengthen the country's supply chain for critical minerals, the deputy governor also praised the proactive communication efforts of Korea Zinc Chairman Yun B. Choi and other senior executives.

Late last year, Korea Zinc announced plans to construct a U.S. smelter in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense. Site preparation work is set to begin this year, with production targeted for 2029.

Once operational, the facility is scheduled to roll out 13 materials, including zinc, lead, copper, antimony, indium, bismuth, tellurium, and gallium, with as many as 11 designated as critical minerals.

The share price of Korea Zinc went down 1.41% on the Seoul bourse on Wednesday.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 6:49 AM.