POSCO’s special correspondent ③ Canada Ultium CAM Kyung-Eun Yoo & Ye-Sol Kim

Are you curious about the lives of POSCO’s overseas expatriates who enjoy working and leisure in an exotic environment? POSCO Newsroom reports on the local lives of overseas expatriates. In Place 3, we’ll introduce Kyung-Eun Yoo from HR and General Affairs, and Ye-Sol Kim, an engineer in the Production Safety Department, both working at Ultium CAM, a joint venture between POSCO Future M and General Motors (GM) that focuses on the production of cathode materials for GM’s electric vehicles.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] :  Hello, I am Kyung-Eun Yoo, an expatriate who has lived in Bécancour, Quebec, since July 29, 2023, and I work in the HR and General Affairs department at Ultium CAM. Ultium CAM is a joint venture between POSCO Future M and General Motors to produce cathode materials for GM’s electric vehicles. Ultium CAM is currently building a cathode material plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons, with the goal of completion by 2025.

Bécancour, where Ultium CAM is located, has strategically developed into a battery-specialized industrial hub known as the Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour (SPIPB). Ultium CAM is the first factory being established in this industrial park, and has received significant support and attention from the city.

In my role, I collaborate with local employees on HR planning, system operations, public relations, and government relations so that our expatriates adapt well and are focused on their work.

[Ye-Sol Kim] :  Hello, I am Ye-Sol Kim, an engineer who started my expatriate journey at Ultium CAM on the same day as Gyeong-Eun Yu. I am part of the Production Safety Department, responsible for sourcing the maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) materials needed for the operation of the plant. MRO encompasses everything from bolts and nuts to critical equipment components such as filters and meshes, all of which require periodic maintenance and replacement for smooth operations. I also oversee the review of local safety and environmental regulations and have recently been involved in training new local employees on process protocols.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] : With a major in French studies, I was keen to find a company where I could use my language skills. That’s when I discovered POSCO Future M’s global talent recruitment program, which seeks to merge knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering to create new value. This program prioritizes overseas assignments for those with proven competence. I joined POSCO Future M with the hope of someday working at Ultium CAM, where French is the working language. When the opportunity arose, it felt almost destined, and I eagerly embraced the chance to contribute to the company’s growth with my French proficiency.

Although I had studied French extensively and believed I understood Francophone culture well, the strong affinity for the language in Quebec was initially a surprise. I realized that with Quebec’s prioritization of the French language as its foremost value and the legal requirement for global companies such as Ultium CAM to use French, the initial establishment of Ultium CAM might not be an easy process.

However, after speaking with locals and studying their history, I gained a deep appreciation for their efforts to preserve their linguistic and cultural heritage in a predominantly English-speaking country. I realized that truly understanding and respecting Quebec’s love for the French language could pave the way for Ultium CAM to become a beloved company in the region.

In North America, recruitment is often conducted on a rolling basis, so companies tend to use professional sites like LinkedIn for hiring rather than open recruitment or campus recruiting as is common in South Korea. Ultium CAM had relatively low recognition in the region, which posed a significant challenge as we deliberated on how best to raise the company’s profile. To raise Ultium CAM’s local profile, we organized various events in the Bécancour area to officially introduce the company to the community. At one such event, I had the honor of representing Ultium CAM and presenting our business operations entirely in French, given the limited English proficiency of the local audience.

We operated booths at recruitment fairs in Montreal and Trois-Rivières, and also hosted Ultium CAM hiring events throughout the Bécancour area. I mainly introduced our processes and products to local job seekers in French. During these events, I received numerous detailed questions about the characteristics of our products and the work environment, and the broad knowledge and experience I gained from the integration training after joining the company was very helpful.

Ultium CAM’s workforce is diverse, and not only has employees from Quebec, but also from Latin America, Asia, and other regions. As a result, effective communication requires genuine respect for different cultures, rather than just language skills. When I learn something new about Quebec culture, I usually share it by saying, “In Korea, we do it this way, but in Quebec, it is done like this, and this is one of the differences between our two cultures.” Alternatively, I might ask, “In Korea, we do it this way, how is it done in Quebec?” This approach helps spark conversations about the cultural differences between the two countries. I make it a point not only to engage in casual conversations but also to discuss work-related challenges with my colleagues with the aim of building strong rapport (mutual trust).

Additionally, I have gained insights into cultural differences that might be less familiar in Korea, such as a preference for cohabitation over marriage, a strong emphasis on privacy that makes people reluctant to share personal details such as age, marital status, or children, and various dietary practices driven by religious or personal beliefs. These cultural nuances have been thoughtfully integrated into our recruitment processes and HR policies to help us adapt our company’s systems to the local context.

In addition to Ye-Sol Kim and myself, four other colleagues from the interdisciplinary talent program (including Min-Young Bong in Maintenance and Hye-Yeon Lee in Technical Quality) are also part of the Ultium CAM team. Each of us serves as a bridge inside and outside the production, maintenance, and quality departments, while also supporting construction efforts. Using our overseas education and work experience, we provide interpretation in meetings and actively participate in on-site discussions with contractors and suppliers.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at Ultium CAM is the opportunity to use our diverse experiences and knowledge in departments to overcome language and cultural barriers and unite as a cohesive team.

[Ye-Sol Kim] : I majored in French Language and Literature and Economics in college. Like Gyeong-Eun Yu, I joined POSCO Future M through the global talent recruitment program. Although I thought I could adapt well to life as an expatriate because I had many foreign friends, I was initially worried about forming professional relationships with foreign colleagues. However, my fluency in English and French helped me quickly bond with local employees through small talk. Indeed, nothing bridges social distances like sincere conversations.

Ultium CAM is currently building a plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons of cathode materials. It is receiving a lot of attention locally because it is a key player in the future electric vehicle battery industry and a carbon-neutral, wastewater-free facility. My responsibilities include developing strategies for waste management with a focus on converting waste into resources rather than resorting to landfill or incineration. We are also negotiating with battery recycling companies to sell process waste containing valuable materials such as nickel and lithium.

I am also in charge of localizing the equipment and materials used in the plant. Ultium CAM is the first cathode material plant in North America, so it has been challenging to find suppliers that meet our specifications since there are few companies that specialize in electric vehicle battery materials in the region. To address this, I have been actively participating in local supplier exhibitions with the procurement team to find companies that can supply materials that meet our requirements. I was so engrossed in reviewing equipment drawings and manuals that the days flew by without even noticing.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Korea with local managers and engineers from Ultium CAM for a cathode material technology training program. We spent four weeks at the Talent Development Center in Songdo and Pohang, as well as at the cathode material plants. The employees who accompanied me and I had a very productive time touring the sites, asking questions, and exploring ways to establish a robust battery value chain in Quebec similar to those in Pohang and Gwangyang.

This technical training program was tailored to specific roles in operations, maintenance, and quality, so we were able to acquire the practical skills necessary for plant operations. It also provided a deeper understanding of POSCO Group’s corporate culture, which greatly enhanced our sense of belonging as POSCO members. As a Korean, I was genuinely surprised by how thoroughly the technical skills were taught during the training. The foreign employees said that they appreciated the opportunity to directly experience and understand the work environment and culture of a Korean company through the training. Now everyone is back in the country and working hard to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired from the training to the plant.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] : Bécancour, where I work, is a small town. On my days off, I love exploring local eateries with colleagues and eating various local dishes. Its picturesque scenery and the laid-back, friendly nature of its residents make working here very enjoyable.

One spot I highly recommend is Coconut Bar, a long-standing pub in Trois-Rivières where many expatriates reside. This pub has been around for decades and holds the nostalgic memories of the mothers and grandmothers of local employees. When you enter, the staff greet you with Hawaiian-style flower leis, and the tropical décor, complete with statues and fountains, transports you from snowy Canada to a summer paradise. It is no wonder that local employees often say, “If you’re in Trois-Rivières, you must visit Coconut Bar.”

What makes Coconut Bar even more special is that we hold a welcome gathering there every time a new employee joins the HR and General Affairs team at Ultium CAM. The first day at a new job can be nerve-wracking, but sitting at the bar and chatting with colleagues helps break the ice and ease the tension. I vividly remember when my colleagues recorded a birthday video for my mother in French at Coconut Bar. It was the first time she received such a global birthday greeting, and she was absolutely thrilled, saying it would be a cherished memory for years to come.

While I thoroughly enjoy discovering new local delicacies, there are times when I miss Korean food. In that case, I either visit a Korean restaurant in Montreal or prepare Korean dishes with ingredients from a local Korean grocery store to share with my fellow expatriates. As we reminisce about our experiences in Korea and discuss all the things we want to do when we return, time seems to fly by.

[Ye-Sol Kim] : Living as an expatriate often brings a variety of new and diverse experiences. It can sometimes be hard to navigate new procedures and processes at work, but the everyday moments and memories I have made along the way make each day enjoyable. We currently work out of temporary offices because the Ultium CAM office building and cafeteria are still under construction. We all bring our packed lunches and eat together, and one day, a local colleague who noticed that I was eating cup noodles every day surprised me with a generous serving of a local delicacy, salmon marinated in maple syrup. Although the idea of sweet syrup on fish seemed odd at first, it tasted far better than I expected. In return, I prepared a Korean dish to share with my colleagues, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

It frequently snows in Bécancour because winter lasts for about half the year. I wasn’t particularly fond of winter in Korea, but since I moved here, I have come to appreciate the season by snowmobiling, cross-country skiing in the parks, and ice skating on the frozen lakes with my colleagues. During the summer, I often play pickleball, a sport introduced to me by local staff. It is a blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, and I find that hitting the ball with the paddle is a great way to relieve stress.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] : POSCO Future M’s Ultium CAM is currently in the early stages of plant construction, so it is not well recognized locally. As a member of the HR and General Affairs team, my goal is to make sure that everyone in the Bécancour area knows about Ultium CAM. We will hire more employees after the plant is completed, and my biggest goal is to build a unique organizational culture at Ultium CAM that blends Korean and Quebecois cultures with the participation of all employees.

Finally, for those considering a career at POSCO Future M Ultium CAM, I encourage you to face the challenge with confidence. While there may be difficulties, the new and exciting experiences will far outweigh them. So, to all of you, Aie du courage (have courage)!

[Ye-Sol Kim] : Engineering work tends to have a clear direction regarding problems and solutions. It requires extensive on-site experience, including a deep understanding of equipment and processes, as well as the ability to handle and resolve a wide range of issues, so I continually study whenever I get the chance. I will continue to do my best in Canada until the Ultium CAM plant, which I have watched from the construction phase, is successfully completed and begins producing 30,000 tons of cathode material annually.