Korea Zinc Develops New Technology to Extract Rare Earths from Waste Motors

Korea Zinc has laid the foundation for resource recycling by securing technology to directly extract rare earths from waste motors, key materials for smartphones and electric vehicles. Since taking office at the end of 2022, Chairman Choi Yoon-bum of Korea Zinc recruited rare earth experts and directed R&D efforts to secure related technologies. After approximately three years of research, Korea Zinc developed a technology to extract rare earth compounds from waste rare earth magnets obtained by dismantling and separating waste motors. This method recycles valuable rare earths from rare earth magnets, which are key components in advanced industries.

This technological achievement comes amid a global rare earth supply chain highly dependent on specific countries.

Korea Zinc plans to continue developing the technology for commercial production and prioritizes building a stable raw material supply chain in cooperation with the government, Ulsan City, and relevant associations. Through partnerships, such as the rare earth oxide production agreement signed with US Alta Resources Technology in January 2026, the company aims to contribute to technological self-sufficiency and strengthen resource security.