The 2024 Global Volunteer Week, POSCO’s special volunteer service event, was held from May 23 to 31. More than 20,000 POSCO employees in Korea and other countries participated in large-scale volunteer work to practice sharing. POSCO Newsroom has taken vivid photos of the volunteer activities carried out by overseas subsidiary employees worldwide. Let’s meet them!

▲ The center director of POSCO-TNPC and eight employees made and delivered a donation set (including a 2-month supply of diapers) to support low-income families such as single mothers and disabled children at the Women’s Support Center in Bursa. It was meaningful in that the costs of the donated sets were funded by savings in electricity bills and costs associated with replacing the company’s LEDs and purchasing waste paper collection boxes.

▲ POSCO-ASSAN TST employees visited a kindergarten near its head office, created a new playground using waste wood, and performed environmental improvement by repainting old play equipment.

▲ POSCO-PWPC visited a nearby organization for disabled children and held an event to promote Korean culture through Korean language classes. The 10 participating employees communicated with the children by teaching them simple Korean greetings and writing their names in Korean.

▲ Four POSCO-Brazil employees conducted environmental cleanup activities at Bosque de Barra Park in downtown Rio de Janeiro on May 28.

▲ POSCO-Mexico employees volunteered to make bread at the Hope Center in downtown Altamira with officials from the Tamaulipas State Department of Welfare. This volunteer activity was especially meaningful in that employees and their families participated.

▲ Employees of four POSCO-MPPC factories carried out various volunteer activities for nine days. Employees of Factory 1 visited a local daycare center, painted classroom walls and floors, and cleaned vegetables and fruits to be delivered to nearby neighbors in need at a food bank. Employees of Factory 2 visited the government agency DIF and donated walkers, canes, and computers. They also visited a public kindergarten and donated playground equipment and computers. Employees of Factory 3 painted a government-supported soup kitchen, and those of Factory 4 visited a local orphanage and donated chairs.

▲ POSCO-MVWPC’s 42 employees visited a local school to paint the exterior walls of the school buildings and replace floor tiles, creating comfortable areas throughout the school to encourage students’ learning activities.

▲ All 52 employees of the AAPC Factory in the United States collected waste around each business site as part of their environmental cleanup activities.

▲ POSCO-America’s nine employees visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects and collected trash around the tombstone.

▲ POSCO-Australia employees held a joint event with KCCA, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and discussed plans for charity activities, and 55 members and their families participated in a charity walking competition to support children with neuroblastoma and completed a 5-kilometer walking course.

▲ POSCO-Western Australia employees conducted environmental cleanup by collecting trash around the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia and cleaned pollutants from the monument.

▲ Thirty-five members of the Mexican Trading Corporation’s volunteer group visited a child and youth protection center in Mexico City, donated various items, and interacted with the children by playing piñata, a traditional Mexican game. (Right) Eight members of the POSCO International Mexico Motor Core Corporation visited a nearby elementary school, presented a first aid kit, cleaning supplies, and school supply sets, and held a tree planting ceremony.

▲ (Left) Nine members of a volunteer group at POSCO International Brazil’s Sao Paulo office donated relief goods for recovery from a flood to victims of heavy rain in Ihu Grande do Sul, Brazil. (Right) Eleven members of the POSCO International BA branch’s volunteer group donated daily necessities and served dinner to low-income and disabled families in a slum in Buenos Aires.

▲ (Left) Eight members of the Bogota branch visited the Red Cross in Bogota and practiced love for their neighbors by donating blood. (Right) Five members of the Panama branch’s volunteer group visited the Panama Canal Miraflores Visitor Center to collect trash and carry out environmental cleanup activities.

▲ Volunteer groups at the German and Italian trading corporations visited a park near the head office and carried out environmental cleanup activities.

▲One hundred and nineteen members of the Uzbek Cotton Corporation’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleaning activities inside and outside the corporation’s factory and around the Fergana region.

▲ (Left) Five members of the Dammam branch’s volunteer group visited nearby Al Khor Beach and carried out environmental cleanup activities on the shore by collecting trash discarded by tourists. (Right) Six members of the Cairo branch’s volunteer group planted 20 lemon trees and 20 pomegranate trees around El Horreya Women’s Hospital.

▲ Eight members of the Johannesburg branch’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleanup activities by picking up trash around the branch office and removing fallen leaves that had been neglected for a long time.

▲ Eleven members of the Tokyo head office’s volunteer group planted flowers in flower beds at nearby Tsukiji River Ginza Park, cleaned up the area around the park, visited a senior center to clean balconies and windows on each floor and organized the garden.

▲ Members of the Osaka branch’s volunteer group visited a nearby orphanage and provided necessary items such as strollers, car seats, and rice and served meals to the homeless in the park.

▲ (Left) Thirteen members of the Nagoya branch’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleanup activities in the Nagoya Castle area. (Right) Twenty-six members of the Beijing branch’s volunteer group visited a nearby senior welfare center to donate necessary items, make meat dumplings, and serve a warm dinner to local seniors living alone.

▲ (Left) Five members of the Qingdao branch’s volunteer group visited a nearby cherry farm, helped with the harvest, purchased cherries produced by the farm, and donated them to a local nursing home. (Right) Six members of the Wuhan branch’s volunteer group visited a childcare facility and presented daily necessities and study materials to the children.

▲ (Left) POSCO-CORE’s volunteer group visited the Yanzi Lake’s Ecological Park near the company and carried out environmental cleanup activities. (Right) Forty-five members of PT. BIA’s volunteer group collected trash around the residences of Papua Palm Farm employees and maintained drainage channels.

▲ (Left) Eleven members of the Labor-Management Council-PT. BIA corporation’s volunteer group donated children’s art supplies to a kindergarten near the company. (Right) Five members of PT. KPE’s volunteer group delivered donations needed to cook lunch boxes to Sewan Village in Indonesia and then participated in cooking.

▲(Left) Twelve members of the Indonesia E&P Corporation’s volunteer group visited a major park in Jakarta and carried out environmental cleanup activities, collecting various types of trash. (Right) Twenty members of the MPCC volunteer group of the Myanmar PRC Corporation and hotel corporation donated 35 sacks of rice and towels for two months to Agape Orphanage Center and carried out residential environment improvement activities by replacing old roofs.

▲(Left) One hundred and twenty-nine members of the Gas Field Operations Office’s volunteer group visited the Yangon Education Center for the Blind and donated braille printing paper, shampoo, toothpaste, and various snacks. (Right) Thirteen members of the Singapore Trading Corporation’s volunteer group carried out volunteer work at the Lions Befrienders Senior Welfare Center by packing and donating goodie bags containing daily necessities such as ramen, canned food, biscuits, and toiletries.

▲(Left) Ten members of the Indian Motor Core corporation’s volunteer group provided snacks and school supplies to boarding schools for children from single-parent and low-income families. Twelve members of the Manila branch’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleanup activities at Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach. (Right) Seven members of the Sydney branch’s volunteer group participated in activities to remove parasitic trees and preserve native trees to protect the forest at the Field of Mars Reserve in Sydney.

Although the regions, environments, and languages ​​are different,
the hearts of POSCO Group executives and employees have become one through ‘sharing.’
POSCO Group’s volunteer activities for coexistence with the local community will continue in the future.
We ask for your interest and support!

The 2024 Global Volunteer Week, POSCO’s special volunteer service event, was held from May 23 to 31. More than 20,000 POSCO employees in Korea and other countries participated in large-scale volunteer work to practice sharing. POSCO Newsroom has taken vivid photos of the volunteer activities carried out by overseas subsidiary employees worldwide. Let’s meet them!

▲ POSCO-ZPSS employees carried out various volunteer activities to celebrate Global Volunteer Week. They held a bazaar in the cafeteria and in front of the parking lot and donated a total of 16,000 yuan to special schools and families in need. They also visited Jin Xiu School in Zhangjiagang City to provide a voluntary service of taking graduation photos for about 300 students from low-income families and donated sportswear and sneakers to the women’s volleyball team players.

▲ POSCO-QPSS employees participated in the “Love Sharing Blood Donation” event hosted by the Qingdao City Blood Donation Center and held a charity bazaar with donated goods from 48 employees in the office building’s first-floor lobby. They donated a total of 1,779 yuan to the underprivileged.

▲ POSCO-Asia (Hong Kong) employees visited a local support group for underprivileged children and donated the future generation support funds raised through the 1% Sharing activities and participated in Food Angel volunteer work to make about 2,500 lunch boxes to distribute to neighbors.

▲Twelve employees of BX Steel POSCO Cold Rolled Sheet Co. visited the Korean-Chinese Middle School in Benxi and held an art contest with the theme “Waste sorting for environmental protection starts with me” as part of an eco-friendly knowledge learning class and awarded excellent works.

▲ POSCO-CSPC employees visited the Children’s Love Center, which was newly established by the Hua Qiao Government to help special children live a safe and convenient life, and provided various learning aids for children to use. They also placed air-purifying plants throughout the children’s center to create a pleasant indoor environment.

▲ POSCO-CCPC employees carried out an environmental cleanup at the Yulin river’s Long Xing Estuary near the company’s head office and collected waste by going around approximately 2 kilometers near the river road for two hours.

▲ POSCO-CDPC employees held a handmade craft event with clay drawings with children at a Hong Yan daycare center near the company’s head office.

▲ POSCO-CFPC employees held a Healing Summer event by inviting families of the disabled. They invited the families of the disabled to the Guangdong Industrial Design Complex and ran a program where the visitors could experience Guangdong Province’s industrial development and POSCO’s corporate culture.

▲ POSCO-CHPC employees visited a Wuhan Yi De senior welfare center, where they have been carrying out volunteer services for 9 years, and spent time with the seniors making zongzi, a traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival.

▲ POSCO-CJPC employees visited a Jilin Chao Yang special school near the head office, laid out safety mats so that the children could rest comfortably and provided snacks.

▲ POSCO-CLPC employees donated five electric nursing beds to vulnerable groups living near the factory with donations collected through 1% Sharing activities.

▲ POSCO-CQPC employees visited the Qing Yu Village, a sister village that was having difficulties with timely harvesting due to a shortage of workers, helped the village people to harvest and package cherries, and donated the cherries to a local senior center.

▲ POSCO-CTPC employees collected 309 sets of old clothes that they no longer used and donated them to a public interest collection platform.

▲ POSCO-CWPC employees carried out activities to remove weeds from the factory’s idle site.

▲ POSCO-CYPC employees visited the beach in downtown Yantai, where many tourists go in the summer, and carried out environmental cleanup activities to pick up trash and put its ESG management philosophy into practice.

▲ POSCO-Japan PC employees carried out environmental cleanup activities for five days in the Toyohashi Sports Complex near the factory, the fishing park in the Yokkaichi Kasumigaura Industrial Complex, the area around the Kawasaki factory, and the vicinity of Higashi Ogishima West Park.

▲ POSCO-PMPC employees cleaned the roads and sewers to prevent flooding that may occur during typhoons and the rainy season in the First Philippine Industrial Park where the company is located.

▲ POSCO-Malaysia employees performed environmental cleanup at community halls and kindergartens near the company by trimming grass, painting old goalposts, cleaning the inside and outside of buildings, and collecting waste.

▲ All POSCO-MKPC’s Klang Factory employees walked a 2-kilometer path between the Klang Factory entrance and surrounding villages to collect waste to participate in the “Zero Disposable Plastic” waste reduction campaign.

▲ About 30 employees of PY NIVA (POSCO YAMATO VINA) purchased paint supplies using funds raised through the 1% Sharing program, repainted tables and chairs they previously donated to an elementary school near the company, and delivered scholarships of 10 million dong to students in need.

▲ POSCO-VST’s 130 employees went around the company to collect roadside trash and provided a fun time by holding a charity bazaar and traditional game competition at a nearby elementary school.

▲ POSCO-Vietnam’s 90 employees visited two orphanages near the company’s head office and had a good time with the children by distributing snacks and school supplies.

▲ POSCO E&C Vietnam employees visited Phuc Lam Orphanage Center and donated daily necessities, school supplies, and a support fund of about 1.6 million won to instill hope in children for the future.

▲ POSCO-Thailand PC’s 67 employees carried out the protection of the maritime ecosystem jointly with the Chonburi Province Coral Preservation Foundation by planting coral seedlings in the sea. Their activities were introduced in detail on the Foundation’s SNS.

▲ POSCO-TCS employees visited nearby Banpusai Elementary School, donated shoe racks and created a vegetable garden. Moreover, they replaced toilets and lighting in old bathrooms and provided education on safety and hygiene to the students.

▲ POSCO-Thainox employees cleaned pedestrian paths near the local municipality office, cleaned drains in preparation for the rainy season, and visited welfare centers for children and people with disabilities to donate daily necessities and carry out activities such as ceiling repair and restroom maintenance. Moreover, they donated relief supplies to nearby emergency rescue teams and self-made bulletproof panels in bulletproof vests to police stations.

▲ POSCO-ISDC’s employees visited a nearby school in Mangao, donated educational TVs and water dispensers, provided English lessons for students, and planted eco-friendly mango trees with the children.

▲ POSCO-Maharashtra employees visited a welfare center for visually impaired students and donated various items, including food and school supplies, to help students grow up in a good environment.

▲ POSCO-IDPC’s employess donated 30 barricades for traffic control to the Casola Police Station in the region. Moreover, they participated in the Indian government’s “Clean India Vision Campaign” by picking up trash and cleaning roads near the office.

▲ POSCO-IAPC employees walked around the roadside in front of the center, picked up discarded trash, and planted seedlings, contributing to creating a pleasant community environment.

▲ POSCO-ICPC collected trash around drainage ditches and removed steel items such as bolts from roads to prepare for heavy monsoon rains and safety accidents around the Chennai Center. In addition, to increase the convenience of nearby residents, the area was cleaned up with pedestrian roads and maintenance.

▲ Fifty employees of POSCO-India Pune Processing Center (IPPC) planted 500 fruit tree seedlings, such as guava, custard apple, and sapota, at Lake Talegaon Dabhade near the company.

▲ POSCO-IJPC’s 28 employees visited a nearby nursing home to celebrate Family Day in Indonesia, prepared chicken porridge and drinks for senior adults, and made and installed handrails in the front yard and walking path.

▲ PT. Krakatau POSCO employees visited a local school for the disabled, built a garden, repainted oil painting, and cooperated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to build an artificial fish reef at Ketapang Beach and clean up the shore. Furthermore, they participated in a blood donation event, delivering 221 blood bags to the Red Cross. They also conducted environmental cleanup activities at five local landmarks with military units and municipal officials from the Cilegon area.

In Part 2 of ‘2024 Global Volunteer Week’ overseas employee volunteer activities,
Overseas corporations in Turkey, Poland, the United States, etc.
Lively volunteer activities participated by POSCO International executives and employees
We will report on the scene. Thank you for your interest!

Launched in 2010, POSCO Global Volunteer Week is an annual week-long community service event established for the company’s social responsibility. This year, the Global Volunteer Week kicked off under the theme of “Share the Talent, Change my Town.” POSCO volunteers from all corners of the world shared their stories – with pictures. POSCO Newsroom reports.

Volunteer activities include helping to improve housing conditions for underprivileged neighborhoods, baking, painting murals, and mentoring the local youth. On May 30, POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon and over 30 employees will visit Myeongryundang of Sungkyunkwan Munmyo (a Confucian shrine) and help repair and replace the Changhoji (traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark for doors and windows).

POSCO hosts the “’2017 POSCO Global Volunteer Week” from May 24-30. This photo shows POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon and other employees volunteering during last year’s Global Volunteer Week.

Volunteer activities will also take place in the various countries where POSCO Group branches are located (China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico and Poland). Volunteer activities are customized for local communities and range from improving and repairing the welfare facilities in slum areas to cleaning up the environment and setting up cultural activities for disabled children.

Not only does POSCO ask its employees to help strengthen the community through the Global Volunteer Week, but it also contributes to the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation to assist those in need.

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Established on the corporate value of giving back to local communities and coexisting with society, POSCO Global Volunteer Week (GVW) continues to provide opportunities for employees around the world to take part in helping those in need.

Since its initial establishment in 2010, the POSCO GVW has grown tremendously in regard to the number of participants and the variety of activities.

This year, approximately 80,000 POSCO Group employees in 52 different countries participated in the GVW, which was held under the theme “Warming Hearts with Steel.” As the name denotes, the service activities were closely tied to making the most of the industry’s characteristics and the nature of steel.

Spreading the “Warmth of Steel” Throughout the World

Upholding its global reputation, GVW encouraged POSCO’s overseas affiliates to carry out various service activities in their respective communities.

To truly fulfill the mission of this meaningful week, employees tailored their volunteer activities to the needs of the local areas as much as possible. Many employees chose to utilize their expertise by constructing new buildings and renovating dilapidated infrastructure.

In Ho Chi Minh City, POSCO-Vietnam employees installed and painted steel handrails on a local bridge. Bridge handrails are essential in Vietnam during the wet season because it is common for bridges to be submerged, making it dangerous for pedestrians to cross.

Quang Thinh Nguyen, a POSCO-Vietnam employee and volunteer of the project, said, “I was happy to be able to contribute to helping others. This project was especially meaningful to me because I got to repair a bridge that local residents and children can now safely use, even in the rain.”

In China, employees of Guangdong Coated Steel Plate and POSCO Daewoo Shanghia Co., Ltd. worked to help senior citizens in the local area.

The Guangdong office staff spruced up the homes of senior citizens living alone by painting walls, repairing old kitchens and replacing broken electric and plumbing parts.

In northern Guangdong, the Shanghai team stopped by the Chang Ding Nursing Home, a facility the team has visited consistently over the past three years. This time, they kept nursing home residents company during their meals and provided small care packages containing essential items.

Other POSCO affiliates headquartered in various parts of the world have also contributed their efforts to serve their local communities. These initiatives included revamping two daycare centers in Mexico, restoring a rehabilitation center for leprosy patients in India, repairing an elementary school to provide a safer learning environment in Turkey and renovating city infrastructure in Malaysia.

All of these activities utilized employees’ expertise and industry know-how in the communities where they live. The small gestures of kindness shown by POSCO employees during GVW have no doubt left positive impacts in POSCO neighborhoods, thus improving the quality of life for many.

Working Alongside Local Communities

POSCO Group employees in Korea contributed to the Global Volunteer Week by helping underprivileged families and cleaning up the environment in various ways.

In Incheon, POSCO Daewoo Supporters hosted an “English Market” for children with limited access to education, while POSCO Construction employees planted wild flowers in Songdo Central Park.

Other groups, such as POSCO Chem-Tech and POSWEL, also contributed to improving the environment by cleaning their respective surroundings, from nearby oceans to pedestrian walkways. These activities were especially meaningful to those who participated with their children, as it gave families an opportunity to emphasize the importance of giving back to society.

POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon showed enthusiasm and support for the good cause, participating in the week’s events at the Hasang Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. There, CEO Kwon and POSCO employees made a “Steel Garden” of steel sculptures, and assembled and donated various steel furniture items to the facility.

POSCO—A Leader in Steel and Community Service

POSCO has led many community projects around the world to improve cities and neighborhoods during its Global Volunteer Week. This year, the unique event saw activities in many service categories ranging from caring for underprivileged children and looking after the elderly to picking up trash, among others.

POSCO’s global volunteerism is a testament to its corporate values, providing various services to local communities while simultaneously offering a rewarding experience for participants.

“Our company finds directions for further development by thinking about our neighbors and sharing our expertise with them,“ CEO Kwon told Seoul Economics Daily in a media interview. “Through this, we can think of ways for us to grow collectively with our neighbors.”

POSCO will continue to grow with its neighbors, interacting with its surroundings to make a difference in the world.

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The words of Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, ring loud and true, and completely resonate with the values of POSCO, who, in the spirit of giving back to the community, has implemented a number of volunteer programs across the world.

Through the annual POSCO Global Volunteer Week in May, under the theme “POSCO Family’s Talent Sharing Week,” the company leveraged its internal power and the talents of its employees to help those in most need.

The Provincial Social Work Centre of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu (formerly known as the Disabled and Orphaned Children Sponsoring Centre) was established in Vietnam in 1999 to provide education and vocational training to those with disabilities, as well as orphaned children, so that they might be able to more easily integrate into society. However, since its establishment, the center has become rundown, and facilities have been neglected. As such, POSCO Vietnam decided to focus its Global Volunteer Week efforts on reviving this center.

Employees were eager to contribute in whatever way possible. Some focused on educating the center’s teenagers on basic life skills, such as how to safely repair a light socket. Others gave Korean cooking lessons or helped to restore center facilities, like the wooden beds that had been broken for as long as the children could remember.

“Today, I’m a carpenter and repairing beds for the children at the center,” noted Mr. Như, team leader of QC. “I am happy doing this work and I hope that the children here can now a have a safe and sound sleep.”

Like POSCO Vietnam, POSCO Headquarters also values the happiness and well-being of each individual of the community, and is actively working towards bettering society.

During Global Volunteer Week, employees in Korea volunteered their time by hosting events for multicultural families and spending quality time with elderly residents of their communities. Some even contributed to making local neighborhoods more beautiful by painting colorful murals, brightening not only the streets, but also the smiles of the area’s inhabitants.

Not unlike many workplaces, POSCO India hosts a monthly event to celebrate the birthdays of its employees with lunch and cake. But last December, Managing Director Sung Gee-woong, while having a casual conversation during the birthday party, mentioned that real happiness is realized only when it is shared with others, especially with those who are in most need.

Those in attendance agreed and it was unanimously decided to create a voluntary “birthday fund” in which employees who are celebrating their birthdays during that particular month contribute to a fund that is used to purchase food and everyday items which are then distributed to those residing in slums near the company.

Yet, contributions are not limited to outside the office. When a member of the POSCO family is in need, fellow employees are quick to reach out.

Such was the case when the son of an employee at POSCO-IDPC in Delhi was recently diagnosed with blood cancer. The staff was quick to extend a helping hand and collectively offered financial support to aid in medical expenses.

These heartfelt gestures of kindness boldly illustrate that POSCO is more than just a company of employees seeking to make a living. It is a family that shares a general responsibility for all humanity, dedicated to making the world a better place, one small act at a time.

At the Forefront of Korea’s Marine Ecology Conservation: POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean 

POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean, established on November 25, 2009, is an organization committed to saving Korea’s waters. Its activities, carried out by members with professional experience in scuba diving, are varied: cleaning waters and beaches near company processing plants in Pohang and Gwangyang, aiding regional fisheries, lifesaving and salvaging sunken ships are all part of POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean’s efforts to protect and preserve Korea’s waters. In addition, the volunteer organization symbolizes the POSCO Green Environment Spirit by actively participating in marine conservation initiatives alongside various organizations in collaborative events such as Water Day and Oceans Day.

Passion? Check. Professionalism? Check.  

POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean has 780 passionate members, 270 of whom hold certified licenses for skin and scuba diving. The high level of professionalism makes it possible for the volunteers to engage in collaborative lifesaving efforts with other organizations such as the Coast Guard.

In August last year, POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean was shown on the popular KBS environmental documentary <Environment Special> displaying the Korean flag at Dokdo after removing the starfish that were damaging the ecosystem. Dokdo, a small island located in the East Sea, bears great significance to Korea as the nation has been in continuous debate with Japan over which country is the rightful owner. Such passionate activities were made possible by regular meetings and training: the organization meets every Saturday to preserve Korea’s oceans such as collaborating with regional schools and local residents to improve the coastal environment and ecology.

Introducing the Various Activities of POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean

POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean working to purify the ocean water at a beach near Pohang

POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean visits Bal-san ri Dong-hae myun, Pohang during Global Volunteer Week

Cleaning up the coastline and getting rid of organisms that harm the marine ecology at Myodo Island in Yeosu. 

Interview: POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean President Jong-bin Park on the Organization and its Future

“We will focus on recovering the marine ecosystem and make a tangible contribution to the fishing economy.”

I remember the early days of the POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean when some fishers were concerned about the impact our activities might have on their farms. Recently, however, local communities are competing to invite us as we have demonstrated over time our contribution in recovering the marine ecosystem. Local governments are inviting us to various environmentalist events, which helps us establish our corporate image as a core volunteer group as well as leading to more opportunities to participate in joint efforts to improve regional communities.

Our next plan is to raise awareness of eco-friendly steel material by integrating them into our volunteer activities. Recently, our members installed the artificial steel reef “Triton” in the waters of Guman-yi ri Dae-bo myun. We were surprised to see the marine ecosystem recovering rapidly due to the swift growth of marine algae following the installment of Triton. We also plan to make efforts to improve the fishing economy.

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What is Triton?

‘Triton’ was named after a sea-god from ancient Greek mythology, who controlled all ocean. The key to Triton was something called a Steel Slag. It is a by-product of molten metal from melting iron ore, soft coal, limestone—the three ingredients for producing steel—in extremely high temperature. Steel Slag is an eco-friendly resource that can be widely used for many purposes such as cement, manures, and aggregates. POSCO’s ‘Triton’ is a low-carbon fish reef using such Steel Slag. It creates a healthy environment for marine life to flourish, by attracting the accession of marine plants in the area. [/box]

We hope that our readers were able to feel POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean’s passion for marine ecology preservation through this post. POSCO Volunteers for Clean Ocean will continue in its endeavors to save the waters of Korea.

Ba Ria Hospital Charity Kitchen

POSCO Vietnam’s volunteer campaign, which took place in 3 areas of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, was carried out under the theme “Protect the Environment and Aid the Disheartened.” To this end, POSCO Vietnam employees visited Ba Ria Hospital on June 10 to congratulate its 30^th anniversary and serve food to its patients. Ba Ria Hospital has only 300 beds, but POSCO Vietnam prepared food for 700 people in order to serve not only the patients but also their relatives.

“This is the first time I’ve taken part in volunteer work in Vietnam,” said Mr. Yun Yang Su, a newly appointed general director of POSCO Vietnam. “It makes me happy to see the patients’ faces when they’re enjoying their food. I think they haven’t had anything to eat for hours,” he added.

“This is the most delicious food I’ve ever had since I was at this hospital. Thank you POSCO Vietnam so much for my full meal,” said Mrs. Tran Thi Tam, 69, a patient who lives 40km away from the hospital. Despite her old age, Mrs. Tam lives in a tattered home and labors day after day to make a living. Much of her hard-earned money goes into the treatment and medicine for her heart disease. The rest is spent on bare necessities. Because she does not have enough money, she eats much less than she should, and her health condition is getting worse day by day. Mrs. Tam was not the only one in such a plight, and POSCO Vietnam employees felt mixed emotions of joy and sadness while aiding the patients and their relatives at Ba Ria Hospital.

Community Repair Services at Chau Pha Commune

POSCO Vietnam also visited Chau Pha commune of the Tan Thanh district. The destitute commune was facing three problems: First, there weren’t any handrails in the neighborhood’s two bridges which made it dangerous for the locals to cross. Second, the rainy season was expected to arrive in the end of the month, but most houses in the neighborhood had leaky roofs. Last, several houses lacked sufficient lighting for daily activities and for the children to study.

Repairing the community was a challenge, but POSCO Vietnam faced it with unparalleled enthusiasm: In just one day, the volunteer team finished installing handrails for the two bridges, fixed the roofs of 5 houses, and installed lights in 10 houses.

“Today, the POSCO Vietnam volunteers worked over noon to finish these bridges,” said Mr. Tran Van Lam, a resident living near the bridge. “When it rains heavily, the bridges often get flooded and people can’t see anything. Now with the handrails installed, my children aren’t in danger anymore when traveling to school crossing this bridge. I thank the volunteers so much,” he said.

Apart from performing general repair work, POSCO Vietnam volunteers visited the family of Mr. Nguyen Van Phong, who suffered brain and leg injury while working in a factory. Though Mr. Phong labored all his life, his earnings were meager. After becoming disabled, he stays in bed and depends on his wife for survival. POSCO Vietnam employees promptly visited the Phong residence after hearing about Mr. Phong’s plight. They fixed the leaky roofs and concreted the walls with thick nylon in case of heavy rain. They left with promises to come back in the near future to build an adequate home for Mr. Phong and his family.

Cleaning Up Long Hai Beach – the newly discovered beach of Vung Tau City

Long Hai is a newly discovered beach at Ba Ria-Vung Tau province with beautiful transparent water which attracts thousands of tourists who come and enjoy every weekend. It would have been nice if these tourists enjoyed the beach without any environmental consequences, but the truth is that they leave a lot of garbage and waste such as plastic cans, nylon bags, and paper.

Although Long Hai is 50km away from the POSCO Vietnam office, it did not stop the enthusiastic volunteer team from jumping in to pick up the waste and garbage along the beach.

“It was so hot today, so we arrived early to collect the waste and garbage,” said Mr. Huy, POSCO-Vietnam’s manager of Training and Education Team. “Our goal was to raise awareness of protecting the environment to the local people and the tourists,” he said.

Moving Forward For a Better World

POSCO Vietnam aims to build a “POSCO Village” this year at the at the resettlement area of Tan Hoa commune in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Beginning in September 2014, the planned project consists of 85 houses for people in need to be built within the next two years.

For POSCO Vietnam, doing business does not simply mean generating profit. Quoting general director Yun Yang Su’s comments on corporate citizenship: Cultivating ties with the local community via practical CSR activities is equally important, making the company mature with stable growth.

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◈ What is ‘POSCO Global Volunteer Week’ ?

The Global Volunteer Week, starting in 2010, is hosted to settle in sharing as a corporate culture within POSCO, as a global corporate citizen, and is POSCO`s unique social contribution activity to globally increase POSCO Family`s sense of belonging and pride.

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In Korea, POSCO employees engaged in various volunteer work: Some helped agricultural communities in Pohang and Gwangyang, while others participated in building homes with Habitat for Humanity and in ‘Clean Ocean Volunteers’, POSCO’s sea environment preservation volunteer initiative. Some also volunteered to preserve our cultural heritage at Gyeoungju, a city of much historical significance. CEO Kwon Ohjoon also volunteered to deliver lunch boxes to neglected elders living alone at permanent rental housing for the poor.

Now, let’s have a look at what POSCO employees around the globe did to help their local communities in this 2014 POSCO Global Volunteer Week!

Indonesia Krakatau: Repairing Schools and Religious Facilities

[POSCO Indonesia team helped repair schools and religious facilities]

POSCO employees at Krakatau, Indonesia visited local schools and religious sites to help improve the conditions by cleaning, painting and repairing the buildings. Props to team Indonesia!

China Qingdao: Warmhearted Caring for Deaf Children

[POSCO China had a meaningful time with deaf children]

In China, POSCO employees cared for deaf children and helped improve the living conditions of ethnic Koreans.

Malaysia MKPC: Remodeling Welfare Center for the Elderly

[Employees at POSCO Malaysia helped remodel a welfare center for the elderly]

POSCO Employees at Malaysia MKPC pulled up their sleeves to remodel a nearby center for senior citizens and clean up local schools. Kudos to POSCO Malaysia for their hard work in spreading love to the community!

POSCO Japan – Cleaning the Streets & Bazaar Event

[POSCO Japan employees cleaned the streets around Nagoya Castle]

POSCO Japan employees cleaned up the area around Nagoya Castle and Arakawa River. They also held a bazaar event for the physically challenged. “I had a meaningful time aiding and caring for the physically challenged during the bazaar event. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to do volunteer work,” said Takimoto Mami, a JEPC employee who participated in the event. “It makes me feel happy and proud to be a part of POSCO when I see my fellow employees actively participate in volunteer work year after year,” said Jung Min Kim, a JEPC employee who oversees global volunteer work.

POSCO Vietnam: Charity Kitchen

Also, POSCO Vietnam employees helped out a charity kitchen run by a nearby hospital. They delivered the food to people living in poverty-stricken areas. Aren’t you hungry for more interesting episodes? Hello, POSCO blog’s next post will be a close-up story of the Vietnam volunteer work experience with commentaries from POSCO Vietnam employee. Stay tuned!

The POSCO global family had a meaningful time in their respective locations during 2014 POSCO Global Volunteer Week. POSCO will continue its efforts to spread the love as a responsible corporate citizen.

At the awards ceremony organized by the Sharing Korea Campaign Office and hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and KBS, Vice President Hwang Eun-yeon received the President’s Award on behalf of POSCO.

POSCO received the President’s Award for carrying out various social contribution projects and for the strength in depth of its employees’ participation in the sharing activities.

Ever since its foundation, POSCO has never stinted in its support of ways to grow together with the local community, look after neglected neighbors domestically and internationally, and foster global talent. Indeed, 98% of all company employees participate in volunteer activities with the average employee volunteering 36 hours, making POSCO a leader in social contribution activities.

POSCO Family employees and families participate in volunteer activities on ‘Sharing Saturday’ once a month, while a ‘Global Volunteer Week’ is in operation whereby POSCO Family employees participate across the globe in volunteer activities for one week. This year, over 55,000 POSCO Family employees from 22 countries participated either in looking after the socially marginalized or in environmental cleanup activities.

In addition, emergency relief kits were made and provided to victims of natural disasters, while clean ocean volunteer activities have been carried out to cleanup marine ecosystems. What’s more, sister relationships with 240 organizations and villages nationwide are helping neighbors in need throughout Korea.

The Global Saemaul (New Community) Movement has been promoted in developing countries to support the fight against hunger and help in the battle to overcome poverty. The POSCO Children’s Center established in Zimbabwe, Africa, provides education for children aged 3~5 along with children suffering from aids, and is operated by support funds from POSCO Family employees.

Not only that, but POSCO employees have been participating in the ‘1% Sharing Activity’ by donating 1% of their wages to neighbors in need. The sharing activity, which started in October 2011 among 930 POSCO and POSCO family company officers and senior managers, has been extended throughout the company exceeding a 96% participation rate in just 18 months since it first started at POSCO, and with 90% at investing companies. POSCO established the 1% Sharing Foundation to utilize funds more meaningfully, and plans to carry out systematic social contribution activities.

Meanwhile, following the Sharing Korea awards, the 4^th Annual Sharing Korea Festival was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium Peace Plaza for two days starting on the 5^th. POSCO participated and operated a booth that showcased POSCO’s social contribution and sharing activities.