Local firms in Daejeon saw their participation rate in construction projects rise despite a broader downturn in the construction industry.
The Daejeon Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that an analysis of 72 large private construction sites in the first quarter of 2026 showed local firms secured total subcontracting orders worth 2.71 trillion won ($2 billion), with a participation rate of 68.2%. This marks a 1.1 percentage point increase from the previous quarter.
The analysis found that local firms maintained a relatively high participation rate even as non-local companies accounted for 73% of major construction sites and 92% of total construction costs.
Key projects with confirmed local firm participation included the Seonhwa 3rd Mixed-Use Complex by Kolon Global at 36.4 billion won, the KT Human Resources Development Center apartment complex by Kyeryong Construction at 17.2 billion won, the Doan District 2 Block 2 apartment complex by Hyundai Engineering & Construction at 18.6 billion won, and the Doryong-dong mixed-use complex by GS Engineering & Construction at 10.7 billion won.
The city plans to continue identifying competitive local firms and facilitating their participation as partners for large construction companies. It also aims to expand practical contract opportunities through business agreements to boost the local construction economy.
Additionally, the city will strengthen subcontracting management for local firms in connection with quality inspections of apartment buildings and supervision performance reviews. It plans to conduct on-site inspections focused on sites with poor performance records to encourage improvement.
"The rise in local firm participation despite the construction downturn reflects the results of the city's continuous site management and communication efforts," a city official said. "We will continue to actively support local firms to secure a stable foundation for winning contracts."
