[E-Daily Reporter Kwon Oh Seok ] #KOREA PETROLEUM INDUSTRIES announced on the 8th that it has completed the registration of a patent for tram track structures and construction methods incorporating Asphalt Concrete Track (ACT). This patent is regarded as a next-generation track system optimized for urban tram infrastructure, addressing the structural limitations of existing concrete tracks—such as construction delays, maintenance difficulties, and environmental impact.

The company explained that, following this patent registration, the asphalt concrete tram track is gaining attention for both its technical reliability and construction efficiency. In particular, it is expected that applying mechanized and panelized construction processes will reduce the burden of construction in urban areas and, by shortening the construction period, contribute to early opening and minimize inconvenience to citizens.
The company also emphasized advantages in terms of quality and maintenance. By using factory-manufactured precast panels, it has reduced quality variations associated with on-site construction. Additionally, due to the characteristics of the asphalt track surface, temperature fluctuations and cracking are relatively rare, thereby enhancing long-term durability. The fact that vehicles can resume operation immediately after partial repairs is cited as a factor that improves maintenance efficiency and helps reduce long-term operating costs.
They also claimed superiority in environmental and ESG aspects. According to a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of asphalt tracks conducted by the Korea Railroad Research Institute in 2016, asphalt concrete tracks reduce environmental impact by 17.1% compared to concrete tracks and lower carbon emission costs by approximately 2,385,000 won. The company added that the combined effects of noise and vibration reduction and lower carbon emissions support its ESG performance.
The core of this patent lies in a structure that involves installing precast concrete panels on an asphalt track bed and securing them with anchors based on steel pipes and elastic pads. The company explains that this ensures structural stability by preventing the panels from shifting even under external loads, and that by designing the inner and outer panel lengths differently on curved sections, it has simultaneously improved construction precision and cost-effectiveness.
Business opportunities are also expanding in line with the growth of the tram market. In South Korea, tram projects are underway in major cities such as Busan, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Dongtan, with a total of 150–200 km of tracks planned by 2035. The company estimates that the section where ACT technology is applied accounts for approximately 1.5 to 2 billion won of the track construction cost per kilometer of tram line and forecasts that it will be able to generate annual new revenue of 15 to 25 billion won in the future.
CEO Song Sang-ho stated, “This patent represents a technological advancement that surpasses conventional concrete tracks in all areas, including construction speed, maintenance efficiency, and environmental performance,” adding, “We will expand the scope of application in line with the growth of the domestic tram market and promote the dissemination of this technology across the entire railway and urban rail infrastructure sectors.”