SK bioscience holds topping-out ceremony for new headquarters in Songdo

On the 9th, Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK Bioscience (fifth from the right), and key officials from the construction project are attending a topping-out ceremony in Songdo, Incheon. (SK Bioscience)

SK bioscience Co., a global vaccine developer under South Korea’s SK Group, announced on Friday that it held a topping-out ceremony and a safety prayer ritual for its new Global Research & Process Development Center (Global R&PD Center) on Monday, which is under construction in Songdo, Incheon.

The company plans to relocate its headquarters and research facilities to the location.

The topping-out ceremony traditionally marks the point when the framework of a building is nearly complete, and the highest structural beam is installed.

It symbolizes the completion of the frame construction and is conducted to wish for the safe completion of the remaining work.

“We have long prepared for the Songdo era, with the goal of establishing an innovative R&D hub that connects the world,” said SK bioscience President Ahn Jae-yong. “With our relocation to Songdo, our journey toward becoming a global vaccine and bio company will gain full momentum.”

SK bioscience secured a 30,000-square-meter site in Songdo in 2021 and has been investing 325.7 billion won ($244.6 million) to build the Global R&PD.

Once construction is completed in the second half of next year as planned, the company plans to relocate its headquarters and research facilities from its current location in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province.