Upon completion, the Green Iris will transport limestones from the port of Donghae in Gangwon-do to Gwangyang Works from the beginning of 2018.

POSCO’s high manganese steel allows the fuel tank to withstand temperatures as low as -196℃, so that it can store and transfer LNG. Moreover, it is highly weldable and cost-efficient compared to other common materials for LNG fuel tanks such as nickel steel or aluminum alloys.

POSCO developed the technology for its high manganese steel after 10 years of research since the late 2000s. Now, it is one of POSCO’s leading World Premium Products (WPP). Due to strengthening environmental regulations worldwide on emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide from vessels, demand for high manganese steel for LNG tanks are expected to increase dramatically.

Cover photo courtesy of Gas Asia Summit.

The forum, which was held for the first time this year, was designed for companies involved in social welfare activities to share information and to spread the culture of sharing. At the forum, POSCO-China received the plaque in appreciation of its activities giving back to local communities.

Out of the 10 companies that received the plaques, only two were non-Chinese companies. POSCO-China and Samsung China were selected, beating out leading international firms from the United States, Europe and Japan.

POSCO-China, as a regional affiliate of POSCO, has been active in helping the victims of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters in China through the Red Cross Society, beginning with fundraising activities for victims of the Sichuan earthquake in 2008.

In addition, the company has been a regular contributor to a range of other social contribution activities in China, including fundraising for the preservation of local culture in Longjing, Jilin Province, a scholarship program and creating green space in Dawangjing Park in Beijing.

POSCO-China will continue to build its brand image as one that people can trust and proactively spread a culture of sharing through its various social contribution activities.

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Kicking Off a New Era in Stadium Design

Resource: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcwest/14950418961, Jim Bahn.

Home of the San Francisco 49ers, the recently built Levi’s® Stadium is the epitome of next-generation stadium design. The $1.2 billion venue boasts an open design anchored with spacious entry plazas. Some 68,500 seats encapsulate the fourteen-acre stadium, though seating can be expanded to 75,000 for large events such as the upcoming Super Bowl as well as concerts, motocross events and conferences.

In June 2010, voters in Santa Clara approved a statute authorizing the creation of the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a tax-exempt public authority, to construct and own the new football stadium, and for the city government to lease land to the authority. A construction loan, funded by private investors, was secured in December 2011, enabling construction to begin in April 2012. In July of that year, the first steel beams were inserted into the ground at the stadium site to commence the assembly of the frame of the stadium.

Jamie Matthews, mayor of Santa Clara, was in attendance as the ceremonial first steel beam was put into place. “There are many important construction milestones for projects of this size. Adding steel is not only visually appealing but also represents both symbolic and real strengths of the project. As the steel goes up, you will see the stadium take shape and grow,” Mayor Matthews noted at the event.

A Touchdown for Sustainability

And grow it did. All in all, approximately 18,000 tons of steel were used to support the 1.85 million square foot stadium. About 14,000 pieces of steel were installed—the largest weighing 36,000 pounds—while an estimated 127,000 bolts were utilized to keep them secure. Furthermore, the steel used in Levi’s® Stadium is 95 percent recyclable, adding to the stadium’s green properties.

In addition to the structure’s recyclable steel, the stadium utilizes enough solar panels to power its ten 49ers home games completely through the collection of solar energy throughout the year. Three solar bridges, which connect the main parking area to the stadium, showcase this technology in a beautiful way.

Yet, one of the most unique features of the facility is the green roof that sits atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium, which aids in lowering the amount of energy it needs to heat suites during winter or cool them during summer. Ample access to public transit, water-conserving plumbing and electric vehicle recharging for spectators also contribute to the stadium’s industry-leading sustainability efforts.

Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-brmGz3uEAg

These state-of-the-art attributes were no doubt a contributing factor to Levi’s® Stadium being recognized as the Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal in May of 2015. A month later, it was also named Venue of Year for 2015 at the The Stadium Business Awards in Barcelona, Spain. It’s certain that as new sports arenas like Levi’s® Stadium continue to be built with a focus on sustainability, steel will continue to be the go-to construction material.

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POSCO is embracing the move towards smart technology through its Smart Factory at Gwangjang Steelworks. The factory connects all operations, equipment and machinery through intelligent data sharing to maximize performance and minimize errors.

Here are some examples of smart city technologies and programs that are already being implemented around the world.

Amsterdam

The Amsterdam Smart City initiative, which began in 2009, currently includes 79 projects collaboratively developed by local residents, governments and businesses. These projects are interconnected through wireless devices. Dubbed the “City,” it works to reduce traffic, save energy and improve public safety.

The City has also provided a number of homes with smart energy meters, with incentives for those that actively reduce energy consumption. Other initiatives include flexible street lighting which allows municipalities to control the brightness of street lights, and smart traffic management, which monitors traffic in real time. The traffic flow is then broadcast to allow motorists to determine the best routes to take.

A view of the Reguliersgracht on the corner with the Keizersgracht, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands at dusk. 

Barcelona

Barcelona implemented sensor technology in the irrigation system in Parc del Centre de Poblenou, which monitors irrigation patterns for gardening crews in real time. Barcelona has also designed a new bus network based on data analysis of the most commonly used traffic routes in Barcelona. Barcelona uses smart traffic lights as buses run to optimize the number of green lights. Emergency vehicle routes are also entered into the traffic light system, setting all the lights to green as the vehicles moves towards their destinations without delay.

Stockholm

Stockholm’s smart city technology uses a universal fiber optic network. Stockholm has created a Green IT strategy. The Green IT program seeks to reduce the environmental impact of Stockholm through energy-efficient buildings, traffic monitoring and e-services to minimize paper usage. The Kista Science City region intertwines university, industry and government to develop ICT applications.

Santa Cruz

An alternative use of smart city technology can be found in Santa Cruz, California. Local authorities use surveillance data to analyze historical crime records to predict where police presence may be required. The analytical tools generate a list of ten areas each day where property crimes have occurred historically, sending police to these regions when officers are not responding to emergencies.

How POSCO is Advancing Smart Cities

POSCO commenced construction of an ICT-enabled Smart Factory, starting with the thick plate factory at Gwangyang Steelworks.

The Smart Factory is an example of the future of manufacturing factories. POSCO hopes to build a world-class smart manufacturing site by finding innovative best practices based on the data generated from its Smart Factory project at Gwangyang Steelworks. This will allow POSCO to develop a standard model which can be applied to manufacturing processes and scaled to fit similar processes in the future.

Technology companies are partnering with construction companies to build the infrastructure required to makes smart cities a reality.

Both individuals and corporations must become more environmentally responsible, being mindful of the levels of waste water, trash and emissions produced both at home and in the office. Considering these factors in the architectural designs of the future, we can ensure a healthy and sustainable planet. Yet, a number of buildings are a step ahead and have already incorporated sustainability into their own designs, setting the precedent for future architectural endeavors. On this World Environment Day, let’s take a look at a few of them.

Northeast Asia Trade Tower (NEATT)

Standing 68 stories tall, the Northeast Asia Trade Tower in Songdo International Business District, Incheon, is the tallest structure in South Korea. It is also the crown jewel of POSCO’s leading innovative technology, utilizing revolutionary features such as a 3D exterior design, a seismic force resisting system and high level security and anti-disaster measures.

Yet, NEATT, which is a mix of office spaces, a luxury hotel, serviced residences and retail stores, also serves as a model of sustainable design strategies, carefully balancing energy conservation, increased indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort. Its range of passive design strategies, which include daylighting, natural ventilation and energy efficient HVAC systems, as well as its eco-friendly, non-toxic construction materials, have ensured that the skyscraper is not only friendly to the environment, but to its human inhabitants, too.

Monte Rosa Hut

Perched above the skiing mecca of Zermatt, Switzerland, the Monte Rosa Hut is a lodging space used by hikers in route to the summit of the same name on icy glacier treks. The five-story crystal-shaped building was constructed on stainless-steel foundations with a wooden spiral interior covered by a silver aluminum shell. During its construction, materials and workers were transported by train to Zermatt, requiring 3,000 helicopter trips.

The hut uses solar power for about 90 percent of its energy and heat requirements. Excess energy is stored in valve-regulated lead-acid accumulators, which ensure power in all kinds of weather. Large windows allow the sun to heat air inside the building, and melting glaciers in the area provide the lodge’s water supply, which is collected and stored in a nearby reservoir. (Image from http://bit.ly/1AJVsUa)

Meera Sky Garden

Perhaps no other building on this list is as one with nature as the Meera Sky Garden in Sentosa, Singapore. This eye-catching, eco-friendly home was designed by Guz Architects, and it overlooks the island’s harbor.

Divided into four distinctive floors, each of which is covered with a grass roof, the home appears as if it is four separate houses, yet is still seamlessly connected by a natural element. Not only are these garden-like spaces visually pleasing, but the grassy roofs help to keep the interior temperatures at a minimum, saving energy. (Image from http://bit.ly/1ddeBTx)

Pixel

While Pixel’s chaotic, colorful exterior is the first thing one might notice about the small office building in Melbourne, Australia, its sustainable design is what really makes it noteworthy. Some of its design innovations include a panel shade system that allows natural light into the office, while at the same time, reducing glare and heat. More impressively, Pixel utilizes wind turbines to generate its own electricity.

As Australia’s first carbon neutral office building, Pixel was also the first building to ever be granted a perfect score on the country’s Green Star sustainability rating system. (Image from http://bit.ly/1JoxIpS)

Bank of America

When the Bank of America building was erected in Manhattan, New York in 2009, it set the standard for all environmentally responsible buildings to come. Its base-to-roof insulating glass external structure enhances heat insulation while creating a large source of natural light, while the building’s extensive solar panels produce energy for the building.

And the Bank of America knows how to save water. Its greywater system collects and recycles waste from sinks and water fountains into the refrigeration system, while its catchment systems collect and save around 45 inches of rain that fall on the site each year. Such sustainable features landed the skyscraper the LEED Platinum Award, the highest level of the internationally recognized green building rating system.

The Change Initiative

In a city that is seemingly ever under construction, The Change Initiative (TCI), an eco-lifestyle shop that stocks everything from environmentally-conscious detergent to greywater recycling tools, sets itself apart from other buildings in Dubai.

Often noted as one of the most sustainable commercial buildings in the world, the majority of the materials used to create TCI are recyclable. The roof is coated with heat-reflective paint and is embellished with solar panels that generate about 40 percent of the building’s energy, while the building’s outer structure has three times the insulation of the average building. (Image from Gundeep Singh) 

For more information about current worldwide green initiatives and for ways that you can “consume with care,” check out the World Environment Day website.

The Expert Panelists
One of the best features about the debate was the members of the panelists. The moderator of the event was Edwin Basson, Director General of worldsteel. Other inspiring panelists included Gordon Irons, Emeritus Professor of Materials Science and Engineering of McMaster University, Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel, Karl Koehler, CEO of Tata steel in Europe, Tom Gibson, President and CEO, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), and Julian Allwood, Professor of Engineering and the Environment of University of Cambridge. It was definitely the ultimate members to guide and spark the conversation, right? Let’s find out which topics were covered during the Steel Twitter Debate along with the exclusive panelists!

Is Steel the Competitive Material Choice in a Sustainable World?
As shown in the tweets below, this year’s main topic, brought by Edwin Basson, Director of worldsteel, was centered on sustainability of steel. To each panelist, Edwin Basson asked for more specific insights on steel as a green option to our generation.

What Experts Think of Steel’s Environmental Benefits
Following the given question, the panelists and about 250 professionals engaged in and shared information in this hour-long debate. On behalf of AISI, Tom Gibson informed us that steel has much less Carbon Dioxide emission compared to aluminum, supporting the environmental friendly aspect of steel. Representing JSW Steel, Sajjan Jindal (labeled as WillOfSteel) added “efficient logistics and greater safety” to the idea that steel is sustainable and critical for infrastructure. Also, Professor Gordon Irons expanded the conversation by mentioning the link between energy use and emissions. He stated, “The steel industry has reduced energy intensity and has research for more reduction”. Lastly, Karl Koehler from Tata Steel offered a suggestion that “legislators should adopt whole Life Cycle Assessments”, mentioning the outstanding performance of steel through recycling.

More about Steel’s ‘Green’ Features
So far, POSCO’s globalblog have been frequently discussing about eco-friendly features of steel in various aspects. For instance, we have introduced iron’s irreplaceability, POSCO Green Building, steel technology of the future and more.

At the end of the Twitter debate, worldsteel also shared further insights and facts by stating that the largest steel use happens in the construction sector which is about 51% of the entire use. Also, worldsteel stressed that steel is especially ‘green’ for the construction industry because “unlike wood & plastic, steel does not wear out after 40 years of use”. In fact, worldsteel has recently published a new technical report on energy use in the steel industry. For more details on the report, visit the worldsteel’s media center.

Since this post is only a summary of the debate, search for #steeltalks to view more comments posted at the event. If you have missed this year’s debate, join next year’s worldsteel Twitter debate to share your inspiring ideas for another important vision of the steel industry.

The manufacturing field of automobiles, energy, home appliances, electronics is earning spotlight as it is creating value, in the Europe market, which continuously creates new fascinating trends. POSCO has been widely introducing its brand’s value by establishing a cooperation system among Steel Business Headquarters, Pohang and Gwangyang Steel Works, Europe Offices, European Local Processing Centers, Logistics Centers, and performing effective correspondence against European clients’ demand of steel. POSCO shows its global potential by providing competitive steel within the European market, and which captivates its clientele.

Global Automotive Materials Marketing with Volkswagen and More

With the basis of its global production and sales network, POSCO is enhancing automotive flat product sales in the growth area of strategic demand. This year’s automotive flat product sales amount is expected to exceed 8 million tons.

Especially, Volkswagen, a German automobile manufacturer, is solidifying a cooperative relationship by highly evaluating POSCO’s value creation capability that is based on strict quality and time control.

The Volkswagen headquarters in Germany and global Volkswagen factories are improving their automotive material supply and quality stability through POSCO’s global infrastructure. Moreover, Volkswagen is discussing various combined efforts with POSCO for the purpose of vehicle weight reduction and production cost reduction. With a solid basis of trust from European clients like Volkswagen, POSCO is expected to speed up its advancement in the world market.

EVI Activities for the Energy/Offshore Plant Industry

The energy/offshore plant industry is high in change of risk and difficult to predict. In terms of technology and marketing, a high entry barrier exists because the industry only purchases steel materials from exclusive suppliers with stringent quality certification.

However, various EVI (Early Vendor Involvement) activities has enabled POSCO to form a network in the European energy/offshore plant industry in a notably rapid pace. For example, POSCO has been developing steel and technology solution with the perspectives of clients and expanding business channels based on the development and constantly seeking for new business opportunities.

Through cooperation of POSCO Steel Business Headquarter, Poyang/Gwangyang Steel Works, the Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) and European offices, POSCO is executing marketing activities and expanding direct business with major European oil companies such as Shell and Saipem. With a basis on solution marketing of quality certification and technology collaboration, POSCO is promoting to advance to the extended market by forming close relationships with major European client companies.

New Renewable Energy Materials Development

Sales of steels for the new renewable energy industry is another example of POSCO’s effort to expand business in the European market. In May 2012, Siemens and POSCO signed the MOU for cooperation in steel, energy and material field’s business and technology development. They have been discussing a joint promotion approach for steel technology cooperation, new material business and more.

As the general interests in green energy and demand for new renewable energy growth escalate in Europe, Siemens is also increasing its productions for green energy installations such as a wind power generator. In response, POSCO suggested a new type of steel that suits the characteristics of wind power generator materials in the European market. Since this year, POSCO is developing and selling high magnetic non-oriented electrical steel sheet targeting the new renewable energy generator. POSCO is responding preemptively to the client’s request in addition to its product development and supply.

Targeting the Premium Home Appliance Market in Europe

In the field of display home appliances in the European premium market, Samsung electronics and LG electronics, the global home appliance companies of Korea, are standing at the front line in the local market. Before the companies execute their successful strategies for Europe, POSCO’s preemptive material supply comes first. Especially due to the industry’s fast cycle of new product releases, POSCO predicts the technical transformation of display home appliances and prepare for the prospective demand for steel materials. Accordingly, POSCO is operating with a response strategy to provide future home appliance material.

In 2007, POSCO founded POSCO-PWPC( Poland Wroclaw Processing Center) with LG International Corp. in Poland. Moreover, establishing POSS-SLPC(POSCO SAMSUNG Slovakia Steel Processing Center) with Samsung C&T in Slovakia, POSCO is supporting the display home appliance material for the European market. Currently, Samsung electronics and LG electronics are expanding their influence across Europe. As a stable partner company for materials, POSCO will supply competitive materials and solution.

Client Acquisition through Solution Marketing for STS Clients

Occupying about 15% of the worldwide demand, Europe is a global STS cold-rolled steel market where its annual demand is about 3 million tons. Especially, Italy and Germany are known as the top two STS markets of Europe. Located in Vallese di Oppeano complex, POSCO-ITPC (Italy Processing Center) is POSCO’s very first STS product processing center established in Europe. The processing ability of the center is about 35 thousand tons per year.

Deviating from previous distribution system through the establishment of POSCO-ITPC, POSCO was able to adopt a system of integrating the global STS production center’s products and selling to the actual demanders in Europe. At the same time, POSCO became capable of high quality processing and Just-In-Time production requested by the European client companies demanding high quality STS.

While executing various marketing activities to procure stable client groups of STS demand in the European market, POSCO-ITPC has obtained more than 140 clients of actual demand after only one year since its foundation. Also, rather than simply providing a cutting service of STS products, POSCO is strategically reinforcing its cooperative relationships by expanding client-oriented solution marketing activities. For example, POSCO is providing combined-processed product service to create added value and high quality processing service for excellent abrasive products. As a result of these efforts, POSCO-ITPC continues to create business profits from January 2014, which is only three months after its operation launch.

Shape Memory Alloys(SMAs): Now a Part of Our Daily Life

SMAs which were originally developed for military applications, are now used in various contexts. One typical example of a non-military application of it is the shape memory bra wire.

Once your glasses frames are made of SMAs, you won’t need to worry about breaking them either! While old bra wires were frequently damaged in the washer, shape memory bra wires prevent this problem as they have more than 10 times the elasticity of old wires and can return to their original shapes even after being bent, when in contact with the surface of the skin.

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How were SMAs first discovered?

SMAs were first discovered at the US Naval Ordnance Laboratory in 1964 while researchers were attempting to develop a new material capable of immediate repair, to use in the building of submarines. In the process of developing this material, researchers coincidentally noticed a shape memory effect from a nickel-titanium alloy. This alloy became known as ‘nitinol’, named after nickel and titanium. Currently, nitinol is widely applied in objects we use in our daily life, such as cars, glasses frames and teeth straightening wires.

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High Strength Steel Wire: the 1cm Long Wire that can Lift Up an Entire Tank 

How heavy do you think a military tank is? A tank weighs around 60 tons. 60 tons equals weighs the same as 10 African elephants and 1,000 adults put together. At this point, can you believe the fact that a 1cm thick wire could lift up a tank? Well you should, because a 1cm thick high strength steel wire made out of amorphous alloys constructed by a mixture of steel and chrome, can definitely lift up a tank!

In addition, as this wire is effective against corrosion, it can also be used for chemical fuel tanks. Amorphous alloys which are the raw material of these wires, have been frequently used to create audio and video heads as they are effective against abrasion and have strong magnetic properties. Since heads made of amorphous alloys are protected from corrosion and abrasion, they stay in good condition for as long as we wish to listen and watch!

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What are ‘high strength steel wires’ and ‘amorphous alloys’?

‘Amorphous alloys’ – yes, the vocabulary isn’t easy, but this is exactly why we’re going to explain these words to you! An amorphous alloy can be obtained by quickly cooling a molten alloy. Amorphous metals have much more strength than metals with crystalline structures, and possess impressive durability of abrasion and magnetic properties.

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Metal Fiber: Created by Nano Technology and Thinner than Hair!

Would it be possible to create a piece of clothing with metal? For those of you who don’t think so, we present to you the ‘metal fiber’, which fulfills the most important qualities needed in clothes such as durability, absorptivity and wearability. The modern day metal fiber was created in the 1960s during the development of a new material for spacesuits. Metal fiber is not yet appropriate as everyday clothing material as it is heavy compared to normal fiber and has high thermal conductivity. However, due to its heat-resisting property, it is still used to produce military uniforms and gas masks. In 2001, Japan presented a maternity dress made out of metal fiber, which blocked out radioactivity.

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Let’s Learn More About Metal Fiber

Metal fibers are fibers made by the special machining of metals such as silver, steel and aluminum. They can be categorized into micro metal fiber and ultrafine metal fiber, depending on their diameter. Metal fibers are even thinner than human hair, which has the average thickness of 100㎛ (100 micrometre).

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Shadow Masks: Increase the Definition of Large-Screen Color TV

Most of us were probably stuck at home or work during the recent Brazil World Cup! Thanks to our high-definition TVs, we were able to feel as if we were actually at the stadium watching the matches in real life. What type of ‘steel’ is used in these large-screen color TVs that simply seem to get better and better?

First of all, we need to know that what we see on the TV screen is the projection of an image created by the red, green and blue beams penetrating the shadow mask. The shadow mask is a metal plate punched with tiny holes, which lies behind the front glass of the screen. Three electron guns at the back of the screen sweep across the mask, while the beams only reach the screen if they pass through the holes on the plate. If the shadow mask fails to perform its task, we cannot expect vibrant colors due to color spreading. In addition, the thermal expansion of a shadow mask could cause colors to appear incorrectly as the positions of the holes would change due to the expansion.

The larger the TV screen, the more important the role of a shadow mask. The reason we can see clear images despite the large sizes of TV screens is because steel used to make shadow masks have been continuously developed. Like this, steel has always been evolving to change our lives in different and unexpected ways.

These various uses of steel has long gone beyond our imagination and its influence over industries is still growing. Currently, we live in a world molded by the evolution of steel. POSCO can’t wait to see how steel will evolve in the future!

Differences exist not only between the two sexes but everywhere: among colleagues at work, between friends, and further, among the various cultures in this world. It is a truly meaningful effort to have an open mind and make a sincere effort to understand and sympathize with others. This is why the POSCO TJ Foundation invites open-minded brilliant talents across the globe through the POSCO Asia Fellowship program. Today Hello, POSCO blog introduces the story of Aigul Kussaliyeva, a fellow of the POSCO Asia Fellowship program from Kazakhstan. Let’s hear about her experiences of cultural understanding during her weekend trip to Insa-dong and Dongdaemun in Seoul, Korea.

Her Story: Aigul on Korea

I was looking for something that would be very Korean and practical at the same time to give my sister and parents back home in Kazakhstan. My sister was getting married soon, and I wanted to find something meaningful for her. My friend in Korea recommended getting some green tea, but I was still a newbie about Korea – I had been here for just two months – and didn’t know where to go look for it. Luckily, my friend Gun Huh who works at the POSCO TJ Foundation offered to be my guide, and that’s how our date started!

We looked for a place where we could purchase the best gift while getting to experience Korean traditional culture, and Insa-dong was the perfect place to do just that. The weather was pretty hot, but everything was so fun and interesting that we were barely affected by it. The streets were teeming with cultural goods, and we even got to take a picture with a pair of young people in traditional Korean clothes, supporting the preservation of the Korean language. They taught us a lot about Korean language and culture, including the phrase Ari Ari which means “Go for it!” in old Korean.

We stepped inside “Osulloc,” which was a shop full of various kinds of organic tea. After a sniff of the wonderfully tasteful aroma of the green tea leaf, I found myself buying 5 sets of green tea even before I knew what I was doing.

After buying the tea gifts, my friend and I had a lovely time chatting about Korea sipping cool traditional tea. I talked about how joyous and nice Koreans were, especially during drinking parties. There was this one guy who went out of his way to mix up a drink just for me! I think Korea’s unique vibe comes from the intimacy and joyfulness of its people.

After the relaxing tea time, we headed for the Ssamjigil of Insa-dong. One of the things that interested me the most was the wall of letters at a rooftop at Ssamjigil. I was astonished to find out they were letters of love written by lovers who visited the Ssamjigil. Back home at Kazakhstan, people don’t express their love for one another so much. I thought it was very cute and lovely for Koreans to be so affectionate to each other.

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(Photo courtesy of Ssamjigil, http://www.ssamzigil.co.kr/)

Ssamjigil was opened to the public on November 18, 2004. It is a road full of cultural goods and merchandise, just like a shopping mall. The unique architecture that connects the first floor to the fourth floor with a single road makes it an attractive place to visit not only for Koreans but also for tourists. The plaza in the center of Ssamjigil is where various exhibitions and plays are held, making it a famous location for cultural experiences, sightseeing and ethnic food. [/box]

His Story: Gun on Kazakhstan

Taking Aigul out to experience Korea together was both fun and challenging. I realized that it doesn’t necessarily mean you know all about your own culture just because you were born and raised in it: you really have to think about the culture and have a deep understanding of the history that formed that culture. Such was the mindset I had when I guided Aigul to Insa-dong.

After our tour of Insa-dong, Aigul offered to introduce me to a little bit of her own culture. She took me to an ethnic restaurant at Dongdaemun that had traditional Russian food. Aigul told me that Kazakhstan is a multi-cultural country home to various unique dishes. The most prevalent are traditional Kazakh and Russian cuisine. It was my first time to try Russian food, and I totally loved it!

One thing I noticed about Russian cuisine was its unique aroma. I learned from Aigul that Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan cuisine share a common aroma. When I asked her for the secret recipe, Aigul happily revealed Ukrop, an annual herb used widely in Russia and Kazakhstan cuisine as a spice. She even gave me some as a gift to use when cooking soup! I was delighted to have had learned something about Aigul’s home country; it made our day a mutually learning experience.

The lady from Kazakhstan and the gentleman from Korea had a meaningful time explaining and experiencing each other’s culture and food. We hope to see more meaningful cultural exchanges in the future through the POSCO Asia Fellowship program!

Today, we are living in a world of amazing products and technologies that go beyond our wildest imaginations. New things that alarm us pop up every other day, and it’s really a difficult task to keep up with all the latest trends. To help our readers out, Hello, POSCO prepared some of today’s most promising trends from secondary batteries to unmeltable steel. How about taking a glance into tomorrow’s technology together? 

A look into today’s leading trends in the advanced materials and energy industry

Thanks to the high enthusiasm and active investment on the part of POSCO and various companies in developing new business opportunities, Korea’s technology is making its way to the top.

Shall we take a closer look into Korea’s globally recognized advanced materials and energy sector?

#1. Secondary Batteries

Secondary batteries are known as one of the three most significant electronics of the 21st century, along with semiconductors and digital displays. Secondary batteries can be recharged and reused unlike the generic disposable kind. Corresponding to the rising interest in eco-friendly energy such as electric cars, the lithium secondary battery market soared 20% annually over the past five years.

According to a report by B3, a Japanese market research company, this year’s lithium ion secondary battery market is expected to increase 24% compared to last year.

Secondary batteries are classified by the material used; there are Nickel, lithium ion, lithium polymer, and nickel zinc batteries. Among these, the most promising is the lithium ion secondary battery which is widely used in various appliances including mobile electronic devices.

The Advantages of Environment-Friendly Secondary Batteries

 The most important reason secondary batteries are so influential in today’s energy industry is that its impact on the environment is minimal. Unlike fossil fuel, secondary batteries do not produce harmful emissions, making it an attractive energy source for cars. Also, because it does not require an internal combustion engine, there is no need to worry about making too much noise. Isn’t that wonderful?

From Automobiles to IT: The Various Applications of Secondary Batteries

Secondary batteries are thrown into the spotlight as the key to eco-friendly growth in various fields such as the automobile, IT and energy industries.

 From various IT devices to electric cars, secondary batteries are being used more and more frequently. Recently, secondary batteries are mostly used in mobile phones because they are light and suitable for storing high amounts of power.

In the automobile industry, the development and implementation of next-generation secondary batteries for electric cars will be a truly significant feat that will change the industry forever.

Game Changer: POSCO develops revolutionary lithium extraction technology

Korea is the world’s largest manufacturer of secondary batteries, but it has also been 100% dependent on imports for the core material lithium. To solve this problem, POSCO and the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) jointly developed a revolutionary lithium extraction technology.

(POSCO’s Pilot Plant (Phase 2) located at the Maricunga project near the city of Copiapó, Chile)

The lithium extraction technology was developed after the successful installment of a pilot plant (phase 2) located at the Maricunga project near the city of Copiapó, Chile.

The chemical lithium extraction technology, which was developed by POSCO’s own research unit, reduces recovery time from around 12 months to just eight hours! It also increases the lithium recovery rate from a maximum of 30% using traditional evaporation ponds to more than 80%.

In a time when secondary batteries are in the limelight, POSCO’s new technology could possibly be a game changer in various next-generation industries such as electric cars and smart grids. We hope to lead the global green industry with this awesome technology!

#2. PosMAC, the Unmeltable Steel

(The demand for highly durable and cost-efficient PosMAC is on the rise in the solar panel industry)

We usually consider steel as vulnerable to rust and corrosion over time. However, Korea’s leading steelmaker POSCO has developed a revolutionary steel by the name PosMAC. PosMAC is free from rust and corrosion for 10 to even 50 years!

The researchers at POSCO felt the need to develop a highly durable steel suitable for use in sites vulnerable to corrosion such as livestock handling facilities or coastal structures. The result was a futuristic multi-purpose steel that not only ensured long-term stability, but also added to the cleanliness and aesthetic of structures.

PosMAC is highly durable to moisture, heat and various chemicals while being affordable. PosMAC is also highly resistant to alkali and ammonia, which makes it highly suitable for use in livestock handling facilities or in situations where components are in contact with concrete tar.

We expect the corrosion-free PosMAC to be a significant contribution to the steel market in areas struggling with rusty steel!

More information on PosMAC at Hello, POSCO Blog

• PosMAC: The Revolutionary Steel 

#3. Substituting Fossil Fuel with Marine Bioenergy

Last but not least is the marine bioenergy industry. Marine bioenergy is an alternative energy produced through the refinement and fermentation of marine biomass such as seaweed. By substituting fossil fuel, bioenergy aims to narrow the gap between energy supply and demand!

Korea is currently heavily dependent on imports for energy, with 97% of the country’s energy being imported. Thus, it is crucial to reduce the dependency while finding out a way to produce energy independently. Marine bioenergy has been thrown into the spotlight as a promising new alternative energy due to Korea’s geography being suitable for development.

The advantages of marine bioenergy is that there is no need to worry about depletion. Also, it can be used continuously once developed, and large-scale development is possible. Lastly, its impact on the environment is minimal. It will be great if Korea would be able to utilize its geographical advantage as a peninsula and develop the environment-friendly alternative energy in the future!