Upcycling ensures that resources are used to their fullest extent, minimizing the number of trips made to the landfill. Vivian Kim, a travel writer, takes us deeper into this topic and introduces two examples of upcycling architecture from her time in both Korea and the Netherlands.

Steel, an Ideal Material for Upcycling

Steel is 100% recyclable, which makes it one of the most ideal materials for upcycling. Other construction materials, such as wood and plastic, can only be recycled a limited number of times before they lose its original properties and functionality and need to be downcycled (recycled into a material that is of lower quality than the original material). Steel, on the other hand, never loses its original quality. In fact, it can even increase in value and be upgraded to a higher grade of steel with the same amount of energy it would take to recycle it.  

High-strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) steel being recycled. (Photo courtesy of Recycling International)

Steel is also reusable. Entire buildings made of steel can be reused or have their lives extended by years, just by making small improvements. Because steel can be easily reused for its original purpose, there is less of a need to use raw materials from scratch, allowing for more sustainable construction.

Let’s take a look at some of the most widely recognized pieces of upcycling architecture in the Netherlands and Korea.   

Amsterdam’s Abandoned Shipyard Reborn as Cultural Hub

Utilizing recycled materials in the design of a building is nothing new. In fact, upcycling in the Netherlands had its beginnings in the 1960’s when a small, social movement began in Jordaan, a well-known neighborhood in Amsterdam. The Dutch began to mobilize the community to protect their historical buildings and prevent constant demolition from taking place. Local governments also recognized the importance of reusing and remanufacturing materials from an economic standpoint and began to push for more upcycling initiatives.

A great example of this is the NDSM ship wharf, the site of the former Dutch Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Just a 15-minute ferry ride from Amsterdam Central Station, the NDSM was once one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world. However, a shortage of shipbuilding orders led to the company’s eventual closure in 1984. The abandoned shipyard soon became the breeding grounds for “city nomads” and local artists to take their place and breathe new life into the empty buildings. Through their efforts, the NDSM quarter was transformed into what is now a cultural hotspot in Amsterdam.

The NDSM ferry stop in Amsterdam Central.

As soon as visitors step off the ferry, they are greeted by what looks like a scene from an eerie, sci-fi movie. The NDSM ship wharf is full of gray, bleak buildings covered with graffiti and steel containers that are painted bright red and blue.

The former NDSM wharf is now Amsterdam’s newest creative hot spot.

Crane Hotel Faralda in the Sky of Amsterdam

At the center of the NDSM wharf stands a monumental, 50-meter-high crane called Crane 13. It is painted in red, blue and yellow, the signature colors of Dutch artist Mondrian. Built in 1951 by Hensen Ltd., it was one of the largest cranes in the world but slowly faded from the public’s memory with the closure of the shipbuilding company.

The Crane Hotel Faralda, transformed from a rusty, old crane into a luxurious high-end hotel.

In the spirit of upcycling, the 60-year-old rusty crane was transformed into the Crane Hotel Faralda in 2013 despite immense technical challenges. The hotel, named after a female Dutch spy who saved hundreds of people during World War II, is made entirely of steel.

As a crane’s main purpose is to lift heavy objects, only the strongest of steel is used to build it. For this reason, High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel (HSLA) is often employed. It contains 0.05% of carbon and other raw materials such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium – the secret behind its enhanced strength. HSLA steel is also more resistant to atmospheric corrosion, enabling Crane 13 to withstand the strong Netherland winds of the North Sea for over 60 years.

In the following time-lapse video, watch how the rusty crane transforms into an iconic symbol of the NDSM quarter and one of Europe’s most unique and sensational hotels.

An old rice mill transforms into one of Seoul’s hotspots

Another example of upcycling that shifts the culture can be found in the quaint neighborhood of Seongsu-Dong, South Korea. Known as the “Brooklyn of Seoul”, Seongsu-Dong is known for its trendy and hip cafes embedded in between old warehouses and factories. Its roots can be traced back to the 1970s where steel, leather and printing factories once dominated the streets. But, beginning in 2010, a wave of cafés, galleries, and studios began to break into the bleak space, transforming the once gray industrial district to a colorful vibrant scene brimming with new sights and sounds.

Daelim Warehouse in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. (Photo courtesy of Daelim Warehouse)

Hidden within the streets of Seongsu-Dong is the Daelim Warehouse, an old rice mill that has in recent years, been upcycled into a multi-cultural hub that doubles as a café and performance/exhibition venue for the artist community. From the bare concrete walls to the metal rod ceiling structure, it retains the distinct flair of a warehouse, cultivating a special atmosphere that has people flocking to it on a regular basis. Because of its unique interior, it has even been acknowledged as one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Seoul.  

[clickToTweet tweet=”Upcycling is more than just a passing fad – it will continue to be an integral part of a sustainable lifestyle.” quote=”Upcycling is more than just a passing fad – it will continue to be an integral part of a sustainable lifestyle.” theme=”style6″]

From the NDSM quarter in Amsterdam to the Seongsu-Dong neighborhood in Seoul, upcycling has become a worldwide trend improving our surroundings as we live, create and build. Just as steel has been with mankind for thousands of years, it will continue to play a crucial role in recycling, reusing and upcycling.

Cover image courtesy of Crane Hotel Faralda

POSCO has held its annual community service tradition, the POSCO Global Volunteer Week, since 2010.  This year, from May 24 to 30, over 79,000 POSCO Group employees from 52 different countries, including Korea, Turkey, Vietnam and the U.S., rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

POSCO Group in Korea

In Korea, POSCO Group employees made home improvements for underprivileged neighborhoods, mentored local youth and had a blast painting wall murals.

In the nation’s capital of Seoul, POSCO employees cleaned up marine waste with the Clean Ocean Volunteer Group, and another group delivered freshly baked bread to the community’s elderly.

On May 30, POSCO CEO Kwon Ohjoon and over 30 employees visited Myeongryundang of Sungkyunkwan Munmyo (a Confucian shrine), to repair and replace Korean traditional paper called Changhoji on windows and doors.

POSCO CEO Kwon Ohjoon visited Munmyo, the main temple for Korean Confucianism located in Seoul, to help replace traditional Korean paper known as Changhoji

In the city of Pohang, POSCO’s volunteer groups visited Sangdo Middle School to conduct first aid and CPR training. Other volunteer groups in Gwangyang, another city in Korea where POSCO conducts business, launched a lunchbox delivery business to create jobs for the elderly and held classes for women for minority communities.

POSCO Group Across the Globe

POSCO subsidiaries in Turkey, Vietnam and the U.S., also took part in Global Volunteer Week.

In Turkey, POSCO ASSAN TST employees opened a Korean culture school for local elementary school students in March. During Global Volunteer Week, Students got to try on traditional Korean clothing called hanbok and volunteers built a playground made out of recycled tires for the kindergarten students.   

POSCO-Vietnam carried out activities to improve the environment of the POSCO steel village and installed safety bars in the POSCO steel bridge. POSCO-VST employees visited local orphanages to deliver healthy meals and deftly handled some exterior painting.

In the U.S., employees at POSCO-America gathered to clean up Centennial Olympic Park. The Detroit office went to the local food bank to distribute food to underprivileged neighborhoods and the Houston office cleaned up the memorial parks in the neighborhood to contribute to their respective local communities.

As one of the world’s leading steelmakers, POSCO will continue its efforts to contribute to global sustainable development by not only developing eco-friendly technologies but also giving back to local communities.

The key components of POSCO’s new strategy include strengthening POSCO’s World Premium Products, improving the profitability of its non-steel businesses, investing in future growth engines, and introducing smart technologies to its group businesses.

Kwon announces a new strategy and the preliminary first-quarter earnings report at the CEO Forum that was held in Yeouido, Seoul, on March 30.

POSCO plans to differentiate itself from competitors by continuing to invest in their advanced World Premium Products. The strategy to expand sales of World Premium Product was implemented at the beginning of Kwon’s first term as CEO and has proven to be highly successful. The share of World Premium Products now represents 50% of total sales.

As for future growth areas, POSCO will push to supply energy storage materials, such as lithium and nickel, using proprietary technologies that extract lithium from salt water or recycled batteries and that refine nickel using low-grade nickel ores. Other key future growth businesses include the production of titanium and magnesium sheets, which are expected to be used in aerospace materials and in luxury cars. POSCO is also planning to expand its natural gas storage and overseas IPP (Independent Power Producer) businesses while continuing to push ahead with its new and renewable energy businesses. By investing KRW 2.5 trillion in these new growth engines over the next three years, POSCO hopes to achieve their goal of KRW 11.2 trillion by 2025.

Aside from pursuing new growth engines, POSCO aims to increase profits from KRW 600 billion to KRW 1.5 trillion in its non-steel businesses by restructuring to focus on its more lucrative businesses. Additionally, POSCO plans to incorporate smart technologies into its group businesses (POSCO E&C, POSCO Energy, and POSCO ICT) and establish a new group-level business platform.

CEO Ohjoon Kwon pledges to double operating profits in three years through the strengthening of both of its steel and non-steel businesses.

In 2014, when Kwon was inaugurated as CEO of POSCO, there were many difficult market conditions both at home and abroad, such as the increasing global oversupply of steel and sluggish industrial demand. Despite these market conditions, POSCO was able to achieve a double-digit operating margin by reducing KRW 1 trillion in costs, restructuring the company, and recording the lowest debt ratio in its history.

POSCO is seeking to create a more balanced portfolio of steel and non-steel businesses as well as domestic and overseas businesses. The company is working to find ways to transform itself into a flexible and advanced enterprise by introducing more smart technology solutions to its existing business areas.

According to the preliminary first-quarter earnings announcement on March 30, POSCO’s sales and operating profit increased YoY by 21% and 27% to KRW 6.99 trillion and KRW 740 billion, respectively. The consolidated sales and operating profit are forecast to increase YoY by 17% and 82% to KRW 14.6 trillion and KRW 1.2 trillion, respectively.

POSCO’s operating margin slightly decreased in the fourth quarter of 2016 but rebounded to 10% in the first quarter of 2017. POSCO E&C is also expected to become profitable in the first quarter. Operating losses at the integrated steel mill in Indonesia and Vietnam decreased while POSCO Daewoo and POSCO C&C saw their operating profits increase.

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The recognition ceremony was hosted by the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration and Maeil Business News on October 18 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. It took place as a tribute to the distinguished services rendered by various enterprises and entrepreneurs that served as the driving force behind Korea, helping the country become one of the top 10 economic powers of the world.

In the enterprise category, the elected companies included: Samsung Electronics, CJ Cheil Jedang, Amore Pacific, SK Telecom, LG Chem, Hyundai Motor Company as well as POSCO. People who were inducted into the entrepreneur category included: Taejoon Park (the honorary chairman of POSCO), Inhoe Koo, Kunhee Lee, Byungchul Lee, Mongkoo Chung, Juyung Chung and Jonghyun Choi. Among the inductees, Taejoon Park is the only member who is not an enterprise owner-manager, making his achievement a unique and remarkable one.

At a time when POSCO lacked experience and technological means, Park, armed only with the conviction that “Steel is the rice of industry, and that we must make the country rich by making cheap quality steel,” erected the integrated steel mill at Yeongil bay of Pohang, which was a wasteland at the time. Living up to his motto of “I shall dedicate my short life to the eternal fatherland,” he transformed POSCO into a steel mill in 1992 that produced 21 million tons a year. Just 25 years later, he created a stable steel supply system.

Thanks to POSCO, steel-consuming industries such as the automobile, shipbuilding and construction industries, secured superior quality and cost competitiveness to become the leading enterprises of today. One story often told in Korea in industry circles involves the Chinese Community leader Deng Xiaoping. He visited the Nippon Steel Corporation in Japan in 1978 and asked the company’s chairman Yoshihiro Inayama to build a steel plant in China similar to POSCO’s. In response, the Nippon Steel chairman told Deng that “it won’t do you any good unless China has a manager as good as Taejoon Park to run it.”

This anecdote gives us an idea of Taejoon Park’s success story and his reputation as an indomitable driving force. Through his vision and dedication, the honorary chairman spearheaded POSCO’s transformation into the world’s most competitive steelmaker, and laid the foundation for Korea to become a powerhouse in the heavy and chemical industries.

POSCO and its honorary chairman Taejoon Park were elected into the ‘Korean Business Hall of Fame in the entrepreneur and enterprise categories at a ceremony held on October18 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. From the left, Changjo You (chairman of the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration), Daehwan Jang (chairman of Maekyung Media Group), Taehee Woo (vice minister of Trade, Commerce & Energy) and Eunyeong Hwang (the CEO of POSCO) can be seen posing for a picture at the ceremony.

“It was the entrepreneurship and can-do spirit of the founders, including the honorary chairman Taejoon Park, that made POSCO the most competitive steelmaker in the world,” said Professor Jinbae Kim of Korea University, who presented POSCO at the ceremony that day. “I sincerely hope that POSCO employees will do their best to enable the company to maintain its status as the best steelmaker in the world by taking in this spirit of entrepreneurship and engraving it in their DNA.”

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The annual POSCO Global Volunteer Week was established to not only give back to local communities, but also to reinforce the corporate value of being socially involved.

POSCO has held the GVW around the end of May every year since 2010, commemorating the date of when the POSCO Volunteering Group was initially founded.

Volunteering Activities Utilizing POSCO’s Business Nature of Steel

This year, approximately 84,000 POSCO Group employees have volunteered to help people across the world by making the best use of their expertise.

Employees in Pohang, Gwangyang and Seoul are carrying out activities such as replacing wheelchair batteries for people with disabilities, establishing safe road environments for children, upgrading electrical facilities for senior citizens living alone and planting wildflowers to create a more cheerful environment.

On May 31, CEO Ohjoon Kwon and approximately 40 employees will visit a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities located near the POSCO Center in Seoul. There, they will build a steel garden, paint fences and assemble steel furniture.

The charity week is also simultaneously being held by POSCO branches overseas. With volunteer work tailored to the needs of their local areas, employees in China, Indonesia and Mexico are all taking initiative to benefit their communities. Volunteer activities include distributing basic necessities to local residents, providing rust removal services, painting bridges and installing plumbing systems in welfare centers.

POSCO, through its seventh annual Global Volunteer Week, seeks to actively spread its corporate culture of sharing and communicating with local communities worldwide.

On March 19, the POSCO TJ Park Foundation held the POSCO Asia Fellowship homecoming seminar at the POSCO Center in Seoul. More than 50 master’s and doctoral degree recipients, as well as new students receiving scholarships from the foundation, attended the event, sharing information about life in Korea and reinforcing their networks.

Speaking at the homecoming seminar were seven graduates who earned their degrees through the support of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation and who have continued working in Korea instead of going back home. They talked about their diverse experiences, such as school life, paths to employment, and Korean corporate culture. The new scholarship recipients enthusiastically asked questions and shared their own information.

On March 19, POSCO TJ Park Foundation scholarship recipients and graduates attended the POSCO Asia Fellowship homecoming seminar at POSCO Center in Seoul. Over 50 students on scholarships and graduates from 12 countries, including China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and India, attended the seminar.

“I was happy to introduce my school life and career in Korea to the new students,” said Ms. Nguyen, a Sogang University graduate who is now in charge of Vietnam-related global affairs at Samsung Life Insurance. “Thanks to the support of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, I am learning about Korean companies’ keys to success and I look forward to becoming a financial expert on Vietnam.”

POSCO Asia Fellowships nurture talent, turning them into next-generation global leaders

POSCO TJ Park Foundation operates the POSCO Asia Fellowship program to promote the exchange of talent among Asian countries and nurture global leaders. Since 2005, the foundation has run a scholarship program that invites promising talent from around Asia to Korea and supports them so they can earn master’s and doctoral degrees. Students chosen for the scholarship receive full support for their tuition fees and living expenses from the POSCO TJ Park Foundation for their studies in Korea.

Since 2005, the POSCO TJ Park Foundation has spent more than 10 billion won (about $8.6 million) on its scholarship program, helping more than 300 outstanding students from 28 countries around Asia.

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation will continue to support talented people around Asia, to help them grow into the next-generation global leaders, and to provide them with many occasions like the homecoming seminar to gather together, network and learn from each other.

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Korea

International Hub, Incheon International Airport (2014-2015)

Incheon International Airport (ICN), also known as the “Winged City,” is 32 miles from downtown Seoul. ICN is one of Asia’s main airport hubs and one of the twenty busiest airports worldwide by passengers and fourth by cargo (Airport Council International). The ICN terminal complex is one of Korea’s largest buildings, with 44 gates and 16 aircraft stands. The bulk of steel used for construction was supplied by POSCO. 

Tallest Building in Korea, Jamsil Lotte World Tower (2012-2015)

With 129 stories total (123 aboveground and six underground), POSCO supplied all 40,000 tons of steel required for the construction of Jamsil Lotte World Tower. Both regular and thermomechanical control processed (TMCP) steel were used in the construction. When complete, it will be the tallest building on the Korean peninsula and the fifth-tallest building in the world.

Knowing the importance of anti-shock capability and high-wind and fire resistance, POSCO worked with contracted partners to propose the use of extra thick plates, high-performance grade steel and 120 mm thick plates. The use of 120 mm thick high-performance grade steel (SM490TMC) is more cost efficient than welding 40 mm and 80 mm thick plates, which was the initial plan. POSCO’s construction proposal also incorporated steel column flat plate structure and steel piping. 

Longest Bridge in Korea, Yi Sun-sin Bridge (2012)

The Yi Sun-sin Bridge was opened in 2012, rising 270 m above sea level, and connects Gwangyang and Yeosu. It is the first suspension bridge to be made entirely from Korean state-of-the-art technology and equipment. Covering a distance of 2,260 m, it is the longest bridge in Korea and the fourth longest in the world, even surpassing the length of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The famous bridge is named for the Korean Admiral, Yi Sun-sin who built the world’s first armored, ironclad warship with iron spikes during the Joseon Dynasty. The ship itself has great significance in Korea’s history.

Sometimes recognized as the Lee Sun-shin Bridge, its official name is “Yi Sun-sin Bridge.” The bridge was an Outstanding Structure Award finalist in 2013. 

Chief Rail Station of Daegu, Dongdaegu Station (2014-2015)

Dongdaegu Station is now the primary rail station in Daegu, Korea, surpassing Daegu Station. Open in 1962, it services the high-speed KTX rail station, as well as the Seoul metro subway system. 

Global

POSCO’s steel is used globally mostly in the auto-manufacturing industry, but is also used in city infrastructure as well. POSCO provided steel used in the Vietnam Vam Cong Bridge (2015) in the Kuwait-Doha Link Bridge (2015).

The Vam Cong Bridge is a 2.97 km cable-stayed bridge across the Hau River in southern Vietnam. With a central span (the distance between towers) of 450 m, it has the second longest central span of all bridges in Vietnam. The Vam Cong Bridge is expected to become a regional landmark.

The Kuwait-Doha Link Bridge connects Kuwait and Qatar, and is made of two parts. POSCO supplied steel for the Doha Link, which connect the Shuwaikh Port with the Doha motorway. It is a marine bridge 13 km long.

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On October 20, 2015, POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon discussed the importance of steel during the 16th World Knowledge Forum at the Shilla Hotel and Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea.

This special presentation was entitled “Steel, Our Timeless Heritage” and was part of the “Promising and Futuristic Industry” segment of this year’s event, which was held under the theme “Mapping the Zeitgeist.” Over 250 people, from opinion leaders to university students, were in attendance during Kwon’s speech, which was broadcasted worldwide via the internet and the Maeil Broadcasting Network (MBN). Kwon was the first Korean entrepreneur to give a speech at the World Knowledge Forum since its establishment in 2000.
As a CEO of a global steelmaker and a researcher in material and metal engineering, Kwon delivered enlightening insights about the role of steel in the history of mankind and the development of civilization during his 40-minute speech.

“As a researcher who has been working in the development of the steel industry and technology, I want to explore with you how steel and iron have been so close to us”, Kwon remarked in the opening of the speech. “It is a known fact that 35 percent of the earth’s weight is steel, and steel protects the earth from the sun by generating a magnetic field around the planet. So, steel is a special gift from God to humanity.”

He also discussed how steel has allowed for many changes throughout human history, especially in warfare and during the Industrial Revolution. He presented the example of Abraham Darby, an English engineer, who, in the early eighteenth century, invented the blast furnace which subsequently allowed for the spread of high-quality, low-cost steel throughout a variety of industries. Darby’s invention later made the production of iron and brass steam engines possible, thus enabling the Industrial Revolution.

Kwon also added, “In terms of economic benefits, it is abundant, cheap and recyclable. It provides energy to all living creatures. Just like steel played a major role in three Industrial Revolutions (first, the steam engine; second, electricity and third, the globalization of computer technologies), steel will continue to play an essential role in achieving technological convergence in the upcoming smart age.”

▲ In his speech, CEO Kwon noted, ”It is believed that steel can do even more to fulfill our dreams as we move forward into a brighter future.”

Kwon ended his speech stating, “Steel has consistently shaped the way of life, history and thoughts of mankind since its initial introduction to us in a meteorite. It is believed that steel can do even more to fulfill our dreams as we move forward into a brighter future.”

Following his speech, Kwon participated in a Q&A session with Professor Michael Pich, Dean of Executive Education at INSEAD Singapore. Pich asked Kwon to explain the main elements of POSCO’s World Premium products and reflect on what other industries might learn from this. Defining World Premium products as high-value added products, Kwon responded that despite, the cut-throat competition of the present-day steel industry, “POSCO generates profit through the expansion of sales of WP products.” He also noted that all industries—not just the steel industry—should develop highly-advanced technologies to lower production costs and improve the quality of manufactured goods.

Hyukjin Nam, a student at Yonsei University asked, “I saw Renault Samsung’s concept car ‘Eolab,’ which incorporated various POSCO technologies. I’d like to know what steel can offer to the automobile industry in the future.” Kwon replied, “Automobile technologies are evolving faster than ever. Now the world is entering an era of electric vehicles which don’t emit carbon dioxide. In regards to materials, aluminum, which weighs only one third of steel, is becoming popular. POSCO is focusing on producing lightweight cars by developing materials such as giga steel and magnesium sheets, which are cheaper but three to five times stronger than aluminum.”

Sungjae Im of Hyundai Mobis also had questions for Kwon, asking, “What are the limits of steel and what are the visions and response strategies of POSCO?” CEO Kwon answered, “Fifty percent of the world is still developing and requires steel, so I expect that steel will have competitive positioning for the next hundred years. POSCO will not settle for the present but strive to further develop new businesses in materials, energy and infrastructure, utilizing the competitiveness of steel.”
The 16th World Knowledge Forum, which was hosted by Maeil Business Newspaper, invited world renowned scholars and leaders including Tony Blair, the former UK Prime Minister, Timothy Geithner, the former US Secretary of the Treasury and Paul Kennedy, a professor at Yale University.

Established in 2000, the World Knowledge Forum is the biggest global business forum in Asia. It aims to highlight the importance of knowledge sharing toward a balanced prosperity of the global economy. It gathers the world’s most distinguished global leaders in business, government and academic sectors and encourages discussion on the importance of knowledge sharing in today’s complex, global business environment.

Equal Opportunity for All

According to POSCO’s Open & Collaborative Human Resources Management policy, all members of POSCO Group are given equal opportunity regardless of their company or nationality and are capable of reaching the top level of the organization based on their abilities and achievements.

To expedite this policy, POSCO modified its existing HR system last March and implemented the Group Integrated Job Grade System, assigning “G grade” to all members of POSCO’s overseas affiliates.

Throughout 2015, POSCO has focused on securing superior talent in essential roles at overseas affiliates, as well as constructing a thorough process to foster and retain quality professionals and to help them to enhance their career competitiveness.

Global employees can master 18 subjects that are helpful in enhancing their skills through audio-visual education materials created by POSCO and are available in three languages (English, Chinese and Japanese). Overseas affiliates can create and enforce a comprehensive education system tailored to each affiliate by adding their own educational content to these materials.

Fostering Superior Global Talent

POSCO is committed to sharing its corporate vision with its global staff while helping them to acquire core work competencies through online modules which contain POSCO’s management philosophy, company history and innovative activities, and are available in eight languages. Global employees have been participating in this educational program since May.

Those who complete the e-learning programs and prove their excellence in learning will be promoted to “P grade” from “G grade.” These personnel will be given priority in global job recruitment and the Global Mobility Program application process, and can build their competitiveness by working abroad.

Furthermore, POSCO is also offering various learning opportunities including group training at POSCO Headquarters, an e-MBA program at local universities and higher-level programs at POSTECH Graduate Institute of Ferrous Technology (GIFT). Any POSCO employee can apply for the learning programs and improve their competencies. POSCO is also establishing a strategic HR scheme to motivate employees through a reward system based on individuals’ achievements.

Ms. R. Khuanhatai of Thailand, one of the first participants of the Global Mobility Program, noted that the opportunity to participate in such training has expanded her knowledge and enhanced her job skills. “I was originally assigned to STS Quality Control in Pohang, where I learned about POSCO’s defect mechanism, inspection control and quality standard. Additionally, I had a great opportunity to spend a month learning about quality design and new product development in GTC Solution (Seoul) and marketing concept in PAC (Songdo). Now that I have returned to Thailand, I am developing a plan to adapt the quality standard of Pohang to POSCO-Thainox.”

New Global Staff Training Program

In 2008, POSCO implemented the Global Challenge Program, which consisted of a Korean Regional Studies educational program, a short-term assignment at Headquarters and job rotations, in order to train and foster global talent.

This program came to a halt in 2011 and was reborn as the Global Mobility Program this year. During this four-step program, selected candidates will participate in an introductory course, a group project, a personal project, an interim workshop and an evaluation process.
Currently, the GMP is a form of affiliate-to-Headquarters assignment, but the scope of work place will soon be expanded to connect affiliates in the same region, as well as in different countries.

Application for the GMP is open to superior talent working for an overseas affiliate who hold a leadership position and demonstrate strong growth potential. GMP participants will be involved in various projects and will be trained by POSCO so that they may better understand the work culture at Headquarters, as well as establish their social networks.
“I have learned how to strengthen relationships with overseas employees by having a better understanding of their cultures and traditions, and experience first-hand how they face their personal and work-related challenges,” noted Ms. Andrea G. Medrano of POSCO-Mexico. “I think all global employees should strive to participate in the GMP so they can feel proud of POSCO, and feel more confident in regards to the job they do.”

Ms. Bei Huang from POSCO-China had a similar experience, having entered the program with the expectation to learn more and to build good relationships with her colleagues in Korea. She remarked, “Through the six-month assignment, I was able to experience a better working environment in Seoul than in Beijing. The staff in Seoul motivated themselves to be more positive regarding the harsh market situation. They always worked together to find the optimal solution to various problems. This positive working attitude is what influenced me the most.”

But GMP participants not only have a chance to enhance their own work skills, but also to take what they’ve learned in Korea and apply it to the workplace in their home countries. Mr. Yerui Liang of Zhangjiagang Pohang Stainless Steel (ZPSS) in China consistently took note of how things were done at Headquarters, comparing it to his own throughout the duration of the program. “I was able to learn many new things, as well as areas to improve,” he said. “As soon as I arrived back at ZPSS, other challenges were waiting for me. I was able to share with my colleagues at ZPSS my experiences and knowledge gained during my time in Seoul.”

Through these efforts, POSCO will continue to strengthen its position as a global leader in the steel industry, all the while fostering the skills of its global employees so that they, too, can reach their full potential.

In the North Pacific, there is an entire area the size of Texas that is made up primarily of garbage. This floating island of waste, not-so-affectionately referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, swirls around slowly with the ocean currents, imprisoning ill-fated sea creatures and marine life, while trapping non-biodegradable debris, breaking it down into tiny toxic bits and dispersing it throughout the ocean’s waters.

Of these marine wastes, plastics are perhaps the most common and the most harmful, as they tend to act as a chemical sponge, concentrating the most damaging pollutants found in the world’s oceans. In fact, for every pound of natural plankton in this area, there are six pounds of plastic.

This gyre, or system of circular ocean current formed by the Earth’s wind patterns and rotational forces, spans waters from North America’s West Coast to Japan, where it meets other gyres. Here, the marine waste is further circulated along oceanic highways.

The continuously circulating pollution, along with warming water temperatures, has severely affected marine ecosystems throughout the world. South Korea, for one, began to encounter the ill effects of this problematic situation in the early 1970s with the first occurrence of reef degradation, or “the whitening phenomenon,” off the peninsula’s southern coasts. “Stressed” coral, unable to photosynthesize due to decreasing algae, quickly began to perish.

As industrialization in these areas continued to increase and tourism began to flourish, damages expanded across the eastern and southern coasts, as well as Jeju Island. The seawater’s self-purification capability steadily weakened and the accumulating amount of marine wastes and toxic substances permeating Korea’s waters kept sunlight from reaching the ocean floor. Without sufficient sunlight, and thus nutrition and oxygenation, the number of algae and sealife dwindled significantly, causing distress to both the ecosystem and the nation’s fishing economy.

Triton Saves the Day

In an effort to rehabilitate Korea’s valuable marine ecosystem, POSCO, a world leading steel company, teamed up with the Research Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) and the Korean government to lead an unprecedented environmental initiative. In 2000, after extensive research, POSCO and RIST developed Triton to promote marine forestation in the damaged areas.

Named after a sea-god of Greek mythology, Triton is structure made of steel slag, an eco-friendly by-product of steel making that contains a high proportion of iron and calcium, elements that just so happen to provide ideal conditions for the growth of seaweed and algae spores, and the purification of contaminated sediment.

It didn’t take long—a year and a half, to be precise—for the forestation efforts to be effective. With steel reefs providing a more habitable, biodiverse environment, abalone and sea cucumber, creatures that had all but died out, prospered. Additionally, the restoration of the marine ecosystem contributed to the increase of fish productivity and therefore the local economies of coastal towns and villages.

That year, close to 200 Triton reefs were installed in eight fisheries along the coastal area of Geomun Island. Since then, POSCO has used steel slag to implement numerous other sea slag forests, and has played an active role in the nation’s marine afforestation projects to help the ecosystem adapt to climate change and demonstrate how by-products from the steel industry can be used in a way that yields positive outcomes for the environment and for communities.

Volunteering to Make a Difference

Unlike other sea-gods, Triton possessed a twisted conch shell, on which he blew like a horn to placate or raise the ocean waters. Legend has it that its sound was so jarring that it could put the giants, who imagined it to be the roar of a dark wild beast, to flight. Like Triton’s conch, POSCO hopes to make a lot of noise about the issues plaguing the world’s oceanic ecosystems.

As such, some 600 of the company’s employees who are passionate about making a difference have joined together to create POSCO Clean Ocean Volunteers. The group, which is dispersed throughout Korea, plays a leading role in marine conservation and educating the public about the importance of the marine environment. The group’s past efforts, in conjunction with local governments, maritime police and the coast guard, have included activities such as water purification, beach clean ups and the salvaging of sunken ships. The Clean Ocean Volunteers have also been proactive in the removal of , which in recent years have increased exponentially and have had a negative impact on the local fishing industry.