The IP Festival 2016 award winners, who made great achievements through POSTIM this year, pose for a photo with their families and POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon.

Held in Pohang with the theme “Let’s Innovate Together,” the event also took place simultaneously in Seoul, Songdo and Gwangyang through video connection. Over 1,200 POSCO Group employees attended the event, where they shared the achievements of the POSCO Total Innovation Methodology (POSTIM) and resolved to take the initiative in generating profitability by devoting themselves to innovation.

The event kicked off with President Eunyeon Hwang introducing the event with Tolmang, a robot operated by artificial intelligence. The video made by and featuring employees presented this year’s performance in innovative activities, and revealed that innovation can be attained through the cooperation and unison of those involved.

The participants then shared the achievements of POSTIM from the past year, such as its establishment, expansion and the foundation of its cause. They also listened carefully to learn about the target performances of POSTIM, such as POSCO Six Sigma Plus, Quality Stability Safety Plus and Smart Work Place, as well as next year’s direction for innovation.

In the presentation of outstanding IP projects, those that produced notable results were introduced among various differentiated plans for improvement, followed by a quiz about the contents of the presentation. The best idea contest was held in the form of a battle, where the participants explained their ideas to the audience and the audience voted for the best one onsite. Also, the unique video presentation of QSS+ best filmed by Group affiliates, global branches and outsourcing companies, captured the audience’s attention.

In the event, 35 successful projects from organizations and individuals this year received citations through POSTIM, with 7 receiving special rewards. Families of the award winners also attended the ceremony that day, which added to the excitement.

The video aired toward the end of the festival emphasized that “we” are at the heart of POSCO’s future innovation, and moved the hearts of the viewers with a wonderful presentation of POSCO’s mindset and plans for the next 50 years.

“We must use POSTIM for all POSCO Group employees to communicate in a single language and constantly seek innovation,” said POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon. “With our potential, let’s promote PSS+ and QSS+ more quickly and robustly next year and prepare ourselves for POSCO’s next 50 years.”

Unlike previous events, this year’s festival also featured a robot to convey the image of the company’s smart innovation activities in a natural and friendly manner. Moreover, the presentation of the performance was not in the form of one-sided speeches but in more diverse and engaging styles that met the employees’ approval. These presentations won the empathy of the participants, and highlighted the performances that emphasized the role of innovation for the future.

POSCO’s 10th Anniversary of QSS+, the Innovation DNA for a Lasting Corporation

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Still, in the small town of Nuanquan in Heibi Province, China, just west of Beijing, a small group of farmers are keeping one of the world’s most unique fireworks displays alive.

Resource: China’s Blacksmiths Put On Dazzling Display for New Year

About 500 years ago, there were many blacksmith shops in the farming town of Nuanquan. Unable to afford expensive fireworks during the Chinese New Year holiday, lower income residents such as blacksmiths and farmers sought an alternative. Inspired by the beautiful sparks emitted during their iron working, a group of brave blacksmiths began splashing molten metal on the city walls, which resulted in the creation of beautiful flower shapes from the cooling iron.

Photo Credit: Robert Berkowitz Creative Commons

As time went on, locals began to prefer the stunning, steel-catalyzed display to fireworks, and donated their scrap metal to the blacksmiths to use during the annual performance. Eventually, a more developed system evolved and eventually became known as dashuhua, which roughly translates as “throwing tree fireworks.”

To create the display, men first soak wooden ladles in water for three days prior to the show to prevent them from combusting on impact. After dipping the ladles into the molten iron (which is made from smashed up pieces of pig iron), flames instantly shoot up. As such, the men work quickly to splash the molten iron onto the city wall to avoid injury.

As the metal strikes the cold, hard wall, it explodes into a shower of sparks, mostly over the performers. Due to the danger posed by the falling molten iron, only the bravest individuals performed in the show, wearing only a jacket made of sheepskin—a material that naturally repels the molten iron—and a straw hat to protect against the splash of hot metal.

Photo Credit: Robert Berkowitz Creative Commons

Despite being banned during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, the tradition has since carried on through the ages. Refusing modern protective clothing to more closely maintain the tradition, today’s performers are prideful of their region’s rich cultural heritage and are eager to pass on the custom to their children. They are also pleased that the event continues to attract spectators from all over China, who gather in freezing temperatures to witness the incredible scene of a night sky illuminated by the sparks of molten iron.

However, as urbanization surges in the world’s most populated nation, the tradition is on the decline, with only four performers left. As such, the Chinese government has designated dashuhua as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and has helped organizers build a dedicated stage for their performances, with an aim to preserve the country’s past as well as Nuanquan’s steel-centric custom.

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This is my first commitment for the Global Storyteller project. I present to you, POSCO South Asia’s very own “Songkran” festival in Thailand!

For those who don’t know much about Thailand, we celebrate Thai New Year called Songkran on April 13th. The festival is widely celebrated not only in Thailand but also in several Southeast Asian countries like Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Songkran is a national holiday in Thailand, and it’s also an occasion for family re-unions. Traditionally, Thai people perform “Rod Nam Dum Hua” ritual on Songkran day. During the ritual, the young pour fragrant water into their elders’ palms as a gesture of humility and respect, and also to ask for their blessings.

On April 12th, all Korean directors and Thai staff in Bangkok office gathered around President Kim Sun Won’s office, wearing Songkran festival shirts. Traditionally, flamboyant outfit is worn for the festival to add extra excitement for the traditional “Rod Nam Dun Hua” ritual.

President Kim was the eldest member in the office and we poured fragrant water into his palms with our warmest blessings. In return, Mr. Kim gave well-wishing remarks and appreciations back to the staff. It was a charming moment as everyone in the room was smiling at each other with joy.

It was a truly good opportunity for POSCO South Asia’s local and Korean staff to exchange our thoughts and cultures through this pleasant event, hosted with the courtesy of POSCO’s global mindset. Most importantly, we have developed a firmer relationship among the members of POSCO South Asia.

All of POSCO South Asia members would like to extend our warm wishing to all POSCO members around the world. Happy Songkran

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About “Songkran” and “Rot Nam Dam Hua”

“The Songkran” festival is celebrated from April 13th to 15th in Thailand and in many other countries in South and Southeast Asia as a traditional New Year’s Day.

“Rot Nam Dam Hua” is a traditional way to celebrate the New Year with the elder by pouring fragrant water into their hands. Most Thai people go back to their hometowns to meet their elders during the festival.

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