한기평 “건설업 L자형 침체 현실화…저점 지연 우려”

South Korea's construction sector faces a structural downturn unlike typical cyclical recessions, with housing starts collapsing by half and economic recovery indefinitely delayed, threatening smaller contractors and the broader economy. As project finance risks persist and mid-sized builders face accelerating insolvency, the sector is pivoting toward smart construction technologies, modular methods, and overseas megaprojects to ensure survival. This transformation from growth-at-scale to operational efficiency and cash flow management signals fundamental industry restructuring where technology adoption and business innovation become critical to recovery.