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!

Chairman Jeong-woo Choi: “With this collaboration, we will secure exceptional local talents early and contribute to the economic advancement of both nations.”

POSCO Group is cooperating with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ho Chi Minh National University to acquire outstanding talents in Vietnam.

On the Dec. 7, POSCO Group Chairman Jeong-woo Choi inked a memorandum of understanding for industry-academia collaboration with Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ho Chi Minh National University, focusing on securing outstanding talents for the group’s Vietnamese subsidiaries. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is the premier institution in the humanities and social sciences field in the southern region of Vietnam, and is affiliated with Ho Chi Minh National University, one of Vietnam’s two national universities.

With this partnership, POSCO Group aims to proactively secure exceptional talents for the future competitiveness of its Vietnamese subsidiaries by leveraging local internship initiatives and scholarship programs. The collaboration will also expand humanities exchange efforts by nurturing tailored talents aligned with POSCO’s vision through talent exchanges with the Humanities and Social Sciences Department of POSTECH.

At the signing ceremony, Chairman Choi emphasized the pivotal role of local talents in the advancement of POSCO Group’s Vietnamese subsidiaries. He said, “Through the partnership with Ho Chi Minh National University, our subsidiaries in Vietnam will transform into prominent local enterprises, secure top talents early on and play a pivotal role in the economic progress of both nations.”

Dean Ngo Thi Phuong Lan said, ”Ho Chi Minh National University hosts a Korean Studies department and is set to introduce a Korean Business Administration department (tentatively named). In collaboration with POSCO Group, a globally renowned environmentally friendly future materials leader, we will cultivate talents who are essential not only for POSCO but also for other Korean companies.”

Following the event, Chairman Choi met with President Nguyen Thanh Tung of Vabis Tue Duc International College in Ba Ria Vung Tau City, where POSCO Group’s Vietnamese steel subsidiaries previously signed an industry-academia collaboration MOU in August. They reviewed the progress of the collaboration. Under the “Industry-Academia Collaboration MOU for the Cultivation of Outstanding Steel Industry Professionals,” Vabis Tue Duc International College plans to open major courses needed by POSCO Group, such as steel technology along with Korean language, Korean culture, and corporate citizenship, starting in February next year. Moreover, POSCO’s Vietnamese steel subsidiaries will be recruiting top graduates to foster as key field personnel.

Chairman Choi said, “With the industry-academia collaboration program, the educational institution will produce talents tailored to the manufacturing sector, while the company will establish a virtuous cycle by fostering key personnel through talent acquisition and global production base deployment programs.”

POSCO Group opened its Vietnam office in 1991, a year before the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam, and currently oversees eight subsidiaries, including POSCO Vietnam, which produces cold-rolled steel sheets.

POSCO Group’s local subsidiaries in Vietnam support vulnerable populations and academically excellent students annually with a 1% sharing fund. In particular, the subsidiaries have selected approximately 790 outstanding students from local universities, including Ho Chi Minh National University, as POSCO Cheongam Foundation scholars. These scholars, known as “POSCO Fellow Vietnam,” are nurtured and supported to become the next generation of leaders connecting Korea and Vietnam to maintain a network of talented individuals.

▲ POSCO Group signing an industry-academia collaboration memorandum of understanding with officials from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ho Chi Minh National University. From left: Young-woo Lee, Head of POSCO Yamato Vina; Kyu-seo Choi, Head of POSCO VST; Chang-woo Yoon, Head of POSCO Vietnam; Jeong-woo Choi, Chairman of POSCO Group; Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ho Chi Minh National University; Pan Tying Ding, Vice Dean; Tran Anh Tien, Director of External Cooperation; and Nguyen Thao Chi, Director of Corporate Relations

POSCO-Vietnam is taking the lead in Sustainable low-carbon management with INNOVILT products, the Sustainable steel products for construction. Let’s have a look at Pumi in Vietnam, where the PosMAC Barrier is installed to supply air and moisture to the soil and prevent the uplift of the roots of roadside trees.

▲Commemorative photo taken before the construction of the PosMAC Barrier on the street in front of the Government Complex in Pumi.

POSCO-Vietnam donated the PosMAC Barrier, an INNOVILT certified product, to the local government of Pumi on July 21st. PosMAC Barrier is a roadside tree guard made of PosMAC, highly corrosion-resistant steel, that continuously supplies air and moisture to the soil and prevents plant roots from uplifting which can destroy sidewalk blocks. In other words, it stores rainwater and retains moisture in the soil to help the roots grow well.

But why was PosMAC Barrier installed in Vietnam? On the soil of Vietnam, a tropical region, plants such as roadside trees are difficult to grow well. The average annual precipitation in Vietnam is 1500~2000mm, which is higher than the average annual precipitation of 1200mm in Korea last year, but there are distinct dry and rainy seasons. In the rainy season, 80-90% of the annual precipitation is concentrated, but in the dry season, it is too dry that the ground is even cracked. Also, due to the high temperature, there is inevitably less moisture in the soil and plants. In particular, the soil organic matter is rapidly decomposed in the center of the city due to high temperature so the organic matter in the soil is far insufficient.

Recently, the Vietnamese government has been actively implementing Sustainable policies such as declaring carbon neutrality. POSCO-Vietnam has begun to look for INNOVILT products suitable for Vietnam’s climate characteristics to respond to environmental issues which are global issues. In Vietnam, due to the poor soil, the growth condition of trees is not good. Also, the destruction of urban infrastructure can be seen everywhere due to severe root uplift. PosMAC Barrier was an essential product for roadside trees in Vietnam as it can store rainwater as a water supply block to keep the soil moist and help the roots grow well. In addition, it was the most suitable product for the current situation as it provides an optimal growth environment for roadside trees and prevents urban heat island.

The government of Pumi, where POSCO-Vietnam is located, also showed high interest in Sustainable policies. “We will actively consider introducing PosMAC Barrier to the roadside tree maintenance project in Pumi City,” said the chairman of the People’s Committee.

▲ Posmac Barrier article published in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu, Vietnam

The local media also introduced PosMAC Barrier as an Sustainable product that can fundamentally help the growth of roadside trees in the city. It mentioned that the upper body of the product exposed to the outside is PosMAC, high-strength, high-corrosion-resistant steel of POSCO and covered in detail about the water tank for collecting rainwater, the EPP filter that guards off foreign body, and the pipe that supplies stored water to the soil and the roots.

Despite the truckers’ strike in June, POSCO worked with INNOVILT Alliance MYSTECH Co., Ltd., POSCO International Steel Sheet Group, and POSCO-Vietnam to export PosMAC Barrier products to POSCO- Vietnam in the shortest period of time. MYSTECH Co., Ltd., the supplier of PosMAC Barrier, was able to create the first successful overseas export case with the help of POSCO and POSCO International.

In addition to donating to the local government of Pumi, POSCO-Vietnam plans to install PosMAC Barriers around the dormitories in POSCO-Vietnam to protect urban infrastructure and respond to climate change. Using this Sustainable solution as a model, we hope that Sustainable INNOVILT products will be used not only in Vietnam but also in other regions of the world.

April 22 was a memorable day for POSCO-Vietnam — Linh, the General Manager of Domestic Sales 1 Department, was announced as the winner of the 2020 POSCO Award. Linh was honored with the award in recognition of contribution to expanding the market share in Vietnam. Linh was the only POSCO Global local employee who made it on the list. POSCO Newsroom got a chance to interview Linh at POSCO-Vietnam.

Q1. Congratulations on receiving the 2020 POSCO Award. Tell us briefly about yourself.

Q2. How did you become to join POSCO? What do you think enabled you to achieve the POSCO Prize?

Q3. Do you have special tips to enhance business performance?

Q4. Domestic steel demand in Vietnam is the highest in the construction field as of present. What are your prospects for the future of the Vietnamese market?

Q5. Are there any high value-added steel products expected in the future of the Vietnamese steel market?

▲ A group photograph with the POSCO award at the Ho Chi Minh City Office. The award was presented here due to the COVID-19 issue. Linh in the middle with POSCO-Vietnam President (right) and Head of Marketing Office (left).

Q6. Let’s move on to the COVID-19 issue. How did the current situation affect you and POSCO-Vietnam?

Q7. Many coworkers might see you as a good model to follow. Do you have any advice for the staff?

Vietnam has been expanding its industrial base following rapid economic growth. However, environmental problems have emerged as side effects of this development and are drawing the attention of the Vietnamese people. That’s why the local employees of POSCO-Vietnam came up with this promotional video with the message of using eco-friendly sustainable steel products. The video posted on YouTube — under the title “Green & Clean Viet Nam With POSCO, Steel save Us” — begins by showing the current situation of the unmanageable amount of waste in Vietnam.

Next, some examples of ‘Steel Save Us’ are introduced — such as using stainless steel tumblers instead of disposable plastic cups, building steel houses instead of temporary houses, and steel bridges instead of wooden bridges — along with a song raising awareness on environmental issues. The employees in the video dance to the song and also show short acts related to the topic.

POSCO entered the Vietnamese market by launching the Hanoi office in 1991, a year before Korea and Vietnam established official diplomatic relations. In 2009, POSCO set up a cold rolling mill — producing 1.2 million tons annually — in Vung Tau Province, 80 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. POSCO also built manufacturing subsidiaries and a processing center to actively promote various product lines, such as stainless steel, rod wire, rebar, section steel, and so on. There are four POSCO overseas subsidiaries currently in Vietnam including the regional representative subsidiary POSCO-Vietnam(cold-rolled product manufacturing subsidiary) — POSCO SS VINA(rebar, section steel manufacturing subsidiary), POSCO-VST(stainless steel manufacturing subsidiary), POSCO Vietnam PC(processing center, existing P-VNPC+VHPC). As of 2018, the total sales of Vietnamese subsidiaries amounted to an approximate 2.3 trillion KRW. They are in charge of steel product sales not just in Vietnam, but also throughout Southeast Asia like Thailand and Malaysia, taking its place as the “ASEAN steel hub”.

Along with the steel subsidiaries, POSCO affiliates are also actively joining into the Vietnam market. POSCO INTERNATIONAL, POSCO E&C, POSCO ENERGY, and POSCO ICT are operating subsidiaries in Vietnam, and the overall investment into Vietnam has reached 2 billion USD so far. There are around 2,700 local employees in different POSCO affiliates, creating excellent local jobs in the market. POSCO will carry out marketing activities focused on Vietnam’s current issues — such as this sustainable steel campaign — and enhance its position in Vietnam with a strategic synergy between POSCO affiliates, like the steel business and global & infra business.

  <Green & Clean Viet Nam With POSCO – Steel Save Us>

POSCO-VST, POSCO’s manufacturing subsidiary in Vietnam, was selected as Vietnam’s Top 10 Companies for Consumer Rights Protection this year – the annual award recognition is jointly administered by Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office which is under the auspices of Ministry of Science & Technology of Vietnam and Consumer Protection Association.

In 2009, POSCO merged the local cold-rolled manufacturer ASC and established POSCO-VST to acquire and expand the stainless steel market across Southeast Asia. POSCO’s subsequent investment boosted the company’s annual production capacity to 235,000 tons, thereby solidifying its position as the number one stainless steel cold-rolled product manufacturer in Vietnam.

▲POSCO-VST’s high-quality stainless steel cold-rolled products and excellent client services earned them the recognition as the Top 10 Companies for Consumer Rights Protection

The award ceremony was held at Vietnam Performing Arts Center on March 31. One hundred companies who advocated for consumer rights attended the event – as one of the Top 10 companies, PSCO-VST was also present to collect the award certificate and medal.

POSCO-VST’s top-quality stainless steel cold-rolled products and customer services contributed to the expansion of steel-consuming industry in Vietnam. In 2018, the company hosted a seminar on the stainless steel industry, together with the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas ). There, POSCO-VST showcased high-quality stainless steel that can help provide safe and sanitary water for the public. POSCO-VST’s effort eventually led to its selection as the ‘Top 10 Companies for Consumer Rights Protection’ for contributing to the improvement of public health in Vietnam.

The award ceremony was live-broadcasted through channel H2, Vietnamese major public broadcaster. The Vietnamese Consumers Association will also feature POSCO-VST’s logo on its homepage for one year. Publicity through such prestigious organizations is likely to boost the company’s profile in the country.

Propelled from the various professional connections built at the award ceremony, POSCO-VST plans to further-strengthen its public profile in Vietnam.

In recent years, Vietnam has undergone rapid urbanization with subsequent advancements in housing, energy and infrastructure. As such, demand for structural steel is expected to reach 24 million tons by 2020. The figures represent 80 percent of Vietnam’s entire steel demand, making Vietnam a booming market for steel consumption in Southeast Asia.

As the Vietnamese construction industry is projected to see an annual growth rate of 7 percent for the next 10 years, POSCO plans to pursue preemptive solution marketing activities with local affiliates such as POSCO SS VINA and POSCO-VST.

POSCO SS VINA will supply Vietnam’s growing structural steel demand.

They also look to cooperate with local organizations to maximize benefits for their clients, by providing support for a wide range of technologies related to molding, binding, improved performance and structuralization.

Additionally, POSCO intends to promote packaged marketing services for large-scale projects to offer various products such as R.H. (ROLLED H-BEAM), BH (Built up H-Beam) and steel bars in one batch.

POSCO is organizing 3 separate departments – the Solution Planning Department, Solution Development Department and Technical Services Department – to successfully create, develop and implement a local, customized marketing strategy. A total of 25 experienced construction experts will serve as consultants.

In January, POSCO also established a “Solutions Marketing Center” under its base corporation in Vietnam and China to provide support for its increased production and sales worldwide.

What is QSS+?

QSS is a tailored and upgraded version of Six Sigma, a popular technique used in many businesses to reduce defects and variabilities in manufacturing and business processes. Moving beyond creating a clean workplace and restoring facility performance, POSCO further upgraded QSS to QSS+ in August 2014 to include My M&S (Machine & Safety) activities, designed specifically to build a more efficient and safer working environment.

Through QSS+, POSCO has been able to drastically improve its facilities by establishing standard manufacturing processes. They worked to make raw material and inventory management more efficient and reallocated working spaces for increased productivity. Since 2006, POSCO’s unique innovation program has helped its employees to complete over 8,000 assignments designed to improve the production line. Such efforts resulted in reducing the concentration of fine dust, equipment failures, and improving the operation rate up to 95%.

Executives and department heads inspect facilities as part of the My M&S initiative.

QSS+ Success Story

POSCO applied QSS not only to its steel mills but also to its family companies and overseas subsidiaries. In China, the first QSS leadership training and master workshop were launched in 2011, and after one year, Qingdao Pohang Stainless Steel became the first overseas subsidiaries to be QSS-certified. In 2015, POSCO China chose four representative branches to lead My M&S activities.

In 2013, POSCO Vietnam successfully completed facility restoration activities named ‘My Machine’ at 11 different facilities as well as 19 other QSS assignments. In 2016, It became the first facility in Southeast Asia to begin using QSS+, tailoring it for their multiple branches.

In Pohang, Korea, four plants drastically lowered the concentration of fine dust in the steelworks from 80mg/m2 in 2007 to 50.3mg/m2 in 2013. Also, in 2016, they launched ‘Smart M&S’ – a program that works to integrate ‘My M&S’ safety improvements with its smart factory, helping it to become safer and more efficient at the same time.

Facilities before (left) and after (right) carrying out a systematic inspection through My M&S Activities.

Initiating programs like QSS are not easy. Because factories are running 24 hours a day, it can be difficult for workers and management to see how individual steps can improve an entire system. According to Kim Dukbae, POSCO’s first QSS Master, “QSS+ was able to become a strong pillar of POSCO’s operations because the leadership team and employees took the initiative to constantly improve and transform our operations…”

QSS+ is now established as a goal-oriented and innovative program that focuses on the three elements of quality, stability, and safety. Thanks to QSS+ and its advancement over the past decade from Six Sigma and QSS, POSCO has been able to establish safe and healthy manufacturing sites. POSCO will continue to apply QSS+ in every level of its organization in order to ensure its position as an industry leading steelmaker.

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For global companies it is often not easy to build successful CSR programs overseas due to differences in cultures, customs, and laws. However, the POSCO Group is working to form strong relationships with local communities near its offices and plants by being attentive to the local issues and actively working to find solutions together with the communities.

POSCO Vietnam helps improve homes with the POSCO Steel Village

Since 2009, POSCO Vietnam has been working to understand the needs of the local communities near its plant. By combining the needs of the community with the capabilities of POSCO and its group companies, POSCO was able to improve local housing through its POSCO Steel Village, POSCO Steel Bridge, and POSCO Steel Playground initiatives.

On November 30, 2016, POSCO Vietnam received the Excellent CSR Prize, the most prestigious prize from the Korean Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy at the 6th Korea-Vietnam CSR Awards in 2016. The award ceremony was held at the KOTRA Hanoi Office on December 28.

In particular, because POSCO Vietnam handles various licenses and permits for steel bridge construction, they formed a volunteer group with members from various POSCO partners. POSCO A&C participated in the design, SS-VINA supplied section steel products, and POSCO E&C processed and built the bridge.

The POSCO Steel Bridge project is seen as a model CSR activity by the local communities and the Vietnamese government. As a result, POSCO Vietnam was awarded with the Excellence in CSR designation, the most prestigious award from the Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy at the 6th Korea-Vietnam CSR Awards on December 28, 2016.

POSCO Steel Village (left) will contain 104 households and is slated for completion in April 2017. The POSCO Steel Bridge in Vietnam (right) was completed in January 2016.

POSCO partners with local schools in Myanmar

In Myanmar, POSCO has been working to provide resources to local schools. Since 2014, POSCO E&C formed sisterhood ties with nearby secondary schools and signed an agreement to work with the National University of Arts and Culture in Yangon. POSCO E&C has donated educational materials and equipment, repaired educational facilities, organized cultural exchange activities, and built rainwater storage & drinking water facilities. More recently, POSCO has been leading the way in making improvements to the safety of Yowa Village. By partnering with POSCO’s 1% Sharing Foundation, they were able to build a bridge in the village with POSCO steel.

For these efforts, Myanmar-POSCO E&C recognized for its contributions to Myanmar’s local communities in the 2016 Myanmar Excellent CSR Company Awards that were held in Yangon, Myanmar in December 13, 2016.

Hyun-ik Choi (right), head of POSCO E&C Myanmar, receives the Prize of the Minister of Strategy and Finance of Myanmar from U Aung Naing Oo, Director General of DICA and General Secretary of MIC. The 2016 Myanmar Excellent CSR Company Awards took place at the Sedona Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar, on December 13.

POSCO Krakatau gives back to Indonesia

In Indonesia, the Krakatau POSCO Social Enterprise (KPSE) has been working to support secondary education, create jobs at the steel mill, and return profits to the local communities in Cilegon, Indonesia, where the steel mill is located.

KPSE, co-founded by the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation and KOICA, was awarded for its efforts at the ‘2016 Korea-Indonesia CSR Forum and Awards Ceremony’ that was hosted by the Korean Embassy in Indonesia and KOTRA on December 15, 2016.

KPSE manager and acting CEO Jang-gon Jeon (2nd from the left) and Andi Soko, officer of personnel management and general affairs at PT.KP (2nd from the right) stand with KPSE employees after receiving the Prize of the Director of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board. The awards ceremony took place at the ‘2016 Korea-Indonesia CSR Forum’ held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Indonesia.

POSCO Group’s overseas subsidiaries have been recognized for their broad contributions in CSR. POSCO Group will continue to promote win-win growth in partnership with local communities at home and abroad based on the Group’s unique values that recognize the overseas market as a partner and not as a business target.

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POSCO Global Volunteer Group, Off to Vietnam!

The fourth Global Volunteer Group was exclusively selected by the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation’s internal contest, which had a competitive selection ratio of 1:7. From August 20 to 28, the volunteers participated in housing construction activities at the POSCO Steel Village located in the Tân Thành district, part of the Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province of Vietnam.

Beginning last year, the Global Volunteer Group’s activities were designed for POSCO’s 1% Sharing Donor employees to visit overseas and participate in overseas CSR activities to experience sharing opportunities and promote them to a greater extent.

The volunteers who used their annual leaves to join this trip participated in an orientation session upon their arrival in Vietnam. During the orientation, they received safety education, shared a 9-day volunteering schedule and were introduced to Vietnam’s culture and home partners to quickly adapt to volunteering abroad.

They also had a meaningful time at a neighborhood orphanage by painting a playground and decorating dolls with children. Their visit to the orphanage was initially intended to give encouragement to the children, but volunteers said afterwards that they too gained great support. Furthermore, the volunteers visited home partners (future residents) to greet them and explain construction service plans. The expected residents expressed gratitude to the volunteers who had traveled many miles to build shelters for their communities.

Officially launched on Monday, the volunteers’ construction activity was a scene of utter devotion. Despite the extremely hot weather, all volunteers were giving their very best. The home partners who the residences were being built for also participated, which added more value to the service.

All participants, including the volunteers and the home partners, started each day with a safety guideline training which was led by Chansu Kim, Head of the Safety Department. Volunteers who had already received the training in Korea signed safety pledges to ensure safe conditions on site. In addition, volunteers with safety engineer qualifications were selected for each group to take charge of safety check-ups, toolbox meetings, and safety slogan reminders.

Thanks to these efforts, the volunteers were able to participate in the service without any accidents. Since it was monsoon season in Vietnam, there were heavy rains in the afternoon when all construction activities were in process. Because of the blustering rain, one of the domestic volunteers broke into tears, but was quickly offered support from other volunteers ensuring to build sturdy houses for the home partners. Also, during the four days of construction, employees from POSCO Vietnam’s affiliates (POSCO-Vietnam, SS-VINA, VST, VHPC) visited the construction site to assist. From POSCO group companies to local employees, it was a unified activity from the POSCO family.

On the last day at Vũng Tàu, the volunteers finally presented the completed houses to the home partners. For those who had been living in poor residential conditions, the new sturdy houses brought big change to their lives. The volunteer activity was wrapped up by a ceremony presenting the 40 houses that were built during the first half of 2016. Dongho Kim, the Managing Director of POSCO-Vietnam the Vice Chairman and Head of Labor Department at Tân Thành People’s Council wished for the new homeowners to live happily in the new houses.

In other aspects, POSCO Steel Village is a large scale social contribution project created through the collaboration of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation, POSCO-Vietnam and the local government to construct 104 steel houses in the Tân Thành District, 100km away from Ho Chi Minh City. The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation funded the construction; the local government provided a location; POSCO A&C designed the steel houses optimized for the local environment; and POSCO SS-VINA produced steel materials for construction. With these supports, POSCO employees and university student volunteers worked together with Habitat for Humanity, an international non-governmental organization, to provide volunteer construction service.

The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation will continue to provide various CSR activities in international and domestic locations to fulfill its responsibility as a global corporate citizen. More than 50 volunteers share their experiences below, revealing the great opportunities that await for any employees interested in volunteering in the future.

Volunteers’ Experiences from the Fourth Global Volunteer Group

We would like to introduce touching experiences from volunteers of the most recent volunteer group, filled with passion and a love for sharing.

POSCO STS Steel Production Group – Chansu Kim

“Our one week in Vietnam was a meaningful time for my life and career. I believe a new turning point was necessary for volunteer services. Thank you all who participated in the event.”

POSCO E&C Marketing Group – Jungho Kim

“Thank you for granting me an opportunity to participate in my very first volunteering activity. For the pure hearts of the children who were playing in the rain, I wish them happiness and joy in their future.”

POSCO ICT POSCO IT Business Group – Wonil Kim

“I went there to help but I received it instead. I went there to express love but I came back with more love. Now, I can see what my responsibility is. Thank you for the opportunity to see a different world.”

POSCO Gwangyang Hot Rolling Group – Byoungdu Moon

“One person’s journey is lonely and desolate, but a journey between two people is friendly and enjoyable. For three people, the journey is exciting and heart-warming, and as more people join, the journey lifts you up as if you were going on a picnic. The world is not a place you can live alone in. Let’s embrace each other and live with warm hearts.”

POSCO Gwangyang Technology Development Center – Byoungcho Kim

“I learned three things from this volunteering trip. First, volunteering gives you moments to feel joy with others. Second, I am capable of more volunteering than I what currently participate in. Third, the outcome of volunteering doubles when many people engage in it. I was able to have a good time because someone was always behind me, helping out.”

POSCO Humans Pohang Service Group – Kyoungsil Kim

“Life is a struggle between surplus and shortage. I appreciate the blissful time of sharing my additional resources with others, and experiencing joyful moments being with joyful people.”

POSCO Group University Job Education Group – Hyuntae Shin

“The word ‘volunteering’ has the connotation of a ‘satisfying experience’. Although it was a short experience, I am glad to think that I found my own form of happiness from the trip. Also, I was glad to see the happy smiles of other volunteers. I wish to continue the joy of sharing in the future.”

POSCO Thick Plate Group 1 Thick Plate Plant – Sangjun Lee

“It was a huge honor to join the village volunteers and contribute to the service with every effort. The children’s innocent laughter, the partners’ smiles and our passion have completely changed my life. I learned to give by sharing small things and found a newly cherished my direction in life. Let’s visit the houses again in 10 years. See you again in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam on August 21, 2017!”

POSCO’s employees are not only dedicated to the company, but to helping others as well. Their fourth collaboration with the home partners in Vietnam served to establish stronger communities and better housing, and they are looking forward to going back to reconnect with the local residents.

Please give your support to POSCO’s employees who will continue to volunteer around the world in the future!

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