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Have you ever seen a blast furnace? The picture below — molten iron pouring out from the blast furnace — might be familiar to you, and it could be the first thing on your mind when it comes to blast furnaces. However, seeing the blast furnace in real life isn’t a daily event.

The POSCO worker in the photo is clearing the area around the tap hole (an exit where the molten iron is discharged) so that the molten iron can smoothly flow out of the blast furnace. That is not easy since the discharged molten iron reaches over 1,500 ℃. However, POSCO employees can do this job owing to the pride and passion they possess for the blast furnace.

Iron ores become molten iron on entering the blast furnace. Then the molten iron is taken to the converter to filter all impurities. Next, the molten iron is shaped into large cuboids, which are then sent to different plants to be various steel products. This entire mechanism is called an integrated steelmaking process. The name says it all. It’s a process that flows continuously from the molten iron stage to the final steel product stage. So the entire blast furnace and steelworks are under operation 24/7 all through the year!

So, what if the blast furnace is idled? The blast furnace itself will be hardened into a huge mass of solid iron, so to restore the process and operate normally, it should be dismantled and replaced with a new one. The cost reaches 500 billion to 1 trillion KRW, and the reconstructing takes several months. Another problem is that it doesn’t end with just the blast furnace. As mentioned earlier, the steelworks is a continuous process, so if the blast furnace stops operation, all the plants that use the molten iron from the blast furnace need to cease their operation as well, meaning that the whole steelworks would have to be shut down.

That is why for the workers at POSCO, the blast furnace is like the subject of “sacred worship.” Did you know that torch lit with the sun was used to ignite the blast furnace No. 1 of Pohang Works in 1973? The records of POSCO history describes the moment very movingly, saying that “each torch relayers in turns took over the ‘flame of the sky.’”

▲ A sacred ceremony of the Olympic torch lighting in honor of Prometheus, who gave fire to humans. Inside the circle shows Tae-Joon Park lighting the torch with the sun to ignite POSCO’s first blast furnace (June 7, 1973).

As a result of this ceremony, the blast furnace has become a sublime object that must be protected for the POSCO workers. The commitment is as deep and heavy as the ancient Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, which cherished the fire used for rituals, and the people of the Stone Age desperate to preserve the flame which was obtained with much difficulty. The reason for this is because steel created with the ‘flame of the sky,’ laid the foundation for the development of the Korean manufacturing industry, and is everywhere in the advancement of the Korean economy.

There are some steelworks around the world where blast furnaces have been idled. As a result, other plants attached to it stopped operation as well, which led to the whole steelworks having to be shut down. As the steelworks were closed, the local economy collapsed as well, deteriorating the entire economy of a country eventually.

So idling the blast furnace is a big problem we need to pay attention because there is no simple solution when we look at the effects caused by it. If it’s shut down, the whole steelworks is closed subsequently. POSCO operates four blast furnaces at Pohang Works and five blast furnaces at Gwangyang Works, respectively. It is necessary to understand that if the furnaces stop operation, local economies might collapse as well. The consequence is enormous.

Although we’re not aware, our heart pumps and circulates blood throughout our body to keep us alive. POSCO blast furnaces are just like our ‘heart.’ They pour out molten iron 24/7 and help the economy of Korea ‘thrive.’

▲ A POSCO worker dealing with molten iron

POSCO’s furnaces are under operation based on cutting-edge technologies such as Big Data and AI. Due to this outstanding feature, POSCO was designated as a ‘Lighthouse Factory’ by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for the first time in Korea. When it comes to blast furnaces, the spirit of POSCO workers is still alive even in the high-tech world of today.

The answer to today’s question became a little serious, but we can’t help it. Because POSCO Newsroom — being a part of POSCO — also shares the pride and passion of the workers at the steelworks. POSCO Newsroom will be back with more interesting stories! See you next time!

* This article was written with help from Jun-Seok Park of POSCO Pohang Works Technology Development Section.

POSCO is the first South Korean company to receive such recognition. Through its smart-factory platform, the company demonstrated its ability to leverage artificial intelligence to drive productivity and quality improvements in the steel industry.

How does POSCO drive impact by applying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies? POSCO Newsroom reports.

l POSCO the Lighthouse Factory Shines Light on Manufacturing Industry

Lighthouse factories represent a range of industries that demonstrate leadership in applying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies like IoT, cloud computing, Big Data, and AI, to drive financial and operational impact.
For the last five years, POSCO has laid the groundwork for the smart factory to boost its competitiveness in steelmaking. POSCO’s selection signifies global recognition of the company’s such effort.
From the submission of the application, due diligence, to documentation review by WEF consultant, the lighthouse factory selection is an arduous process. From the initial application submission, it took POSCO about one year until its final selection as the lighthouse factory.

One of POSCO’s esteemed contributions was its establishment of a sound ecosystem where SMEs and start-ups can thrive through active collaboration. Additionally, POSCO’s smart factory platform was customized to meet the needs of the steel industry. One of the WEF consultants at POSCO’s steelworks was especially impressed with the way in which years of human skills paired superbly with the new AI technology in monitor-controlling the massive furnace operations live, 24/7.

There are altogether 26 lighthouse factories around the world including POSCO, Siemens, BMW, Johnson & Jonson, and Haier. The lighthouse designation effectively gives the companies the Global Lighthouse Network membership among which the members share their knowledge and experiences enhancing their ability to better-adopt smart-factory platform. POSCO plans to utilize the benefits the Network offers to boost its ability to establish and advance smart factories that meet ever-changing industry demands.

l Sophisticated Steelmaking Goes ‘Smart’

Heavy pole and massive chimneys are some of the things that people associate with typical steelworks operation. What’s so complicated about steelmaking? — isn’t it all about stuffing everything in the blast furnace where molten iron comes out? Then molding the molten iron, baking it, pressing it, and cutting it up?

Maybe so, but in actuality, each process is extremely sophisticated especially when combined with varying customer requests. The smooth operation of POSCO’s 24/7 steelworks can be attributed to the company’s 51 years of experience as well as to the field engineers whose meticulous monitoring and management of the steelworks operation propel the steelworks operation forward.

Even with their expertise, however, each engineer’s experience varies. In the immense intricacy of steelworks operation, POSCO must deal with the inevitable at all times. What are some of the inevitable situations that can occur during the steelmaking process?

Production Planning: POSCO’s ‘Order Management Group’ is the brain of all steelworks operation — not only does it take orders, but it also manages production schedules, locations, and production methods. The Group is also in charge of figuring out precise production timing as per special customer requirements. Some customer requests involve a unique mixture of ingredients, so there are always many variables to consider. There are at least 10 ‘standard’ procedures the Order Processing Group must consider. Only after these minimum standards have been met, the steelworks operation of that specific order can receive greenlight.

Ironmaking: POSCO Newsroom previously covered the basic concept of managing ‘blast furnace condition’ in the ‘Blast Furnace Anatomy #1 — To the Heart of Steelworks Operation’ (LINK). There are countless tasks involved in 24/7 blast furnace operation — from maintaining temperature, placing in fuels and raw materials with precision, to predicting the amount of by-product gas generation.

Steelmaking & Continuous Casting: The steelmaking department removes impurities from the molten iron produced in the previous ironmaking stage, by way of converter — the molten iron becomes ‘steel’ in this process. During the casting process, the ‘steel’ is molded into intermediary materials like slab, bloom, and billet.

Molten iron can be made into countless different products to meet diverse customer needs, each requiring different portion and mixture of ingredients. To achieve this goal, the molten iron undergoes four different stages of ‘blowing process’ where oxygen is pressured through molten iron to lower the carbon content of the alloy, changing it into low-carbon steel.

At this point, the molten ‘steel’ goes through continuous casting, after of which is cooled down and cut. Temperature and ingredient management with precision is crucial for maximized use of limited resources.

Rolling: The next step is ‘tempering,’ a process of heat treating, which is used to increase the toughness of iron-based alloys. In ‘Game of Thrones’, blacksmiths constantly bang on the iron as a way of hardening the material. In steelworks, the process of rolling achieves the same goal.

In rolling, materials are passed through the rotating rolls to produce steel products that meet customer demands: in thickness, width, strength, durability, etc. Imagine baking bread, each with a different requirement for textures, tastes as well as shapes.

Surface Treatment: Automotive steel plates and home appliances are galvanized so that they become more corrosion-resistant, more suitable for various manufacturing purposes. Precise surface treatment suited to each purpose is the key to an advanced coating technology.

Notwithstanding the 100% effort aimed for perfection, complex steelmaking process overflows with information. Variation — be it human or mechanic — is inevitable in each and every step of the process. To address such variation, POSCO is opting for the smart factory, identifying it as the next-generation of its growth engine.

The establishment of smart factories must be preceded by the digitization of factories. Through Process Innovation Project (PI Project) in the 2000s, POSCO successfully achieved digitization of its factories. What set POSCO apart from the various similar endeavor is that the company has been working this digitization muscle for a while now. Smart factory, which is being built on the digital factory, is at the center of POSCO’s unique smart factory platform called PosFrame.

l PosFrame, the Foundation of POSCO’s Smart Factory

What is the origin of POSCO’s smart factory? It can be traced back to the year 2015 when the hype of smart industry hasn’t quite caught on the flame. Even back then, POSCO introduced new technologies like Big Data, specifically at the Plate Plant at Gwangyang Steelworks. At this point, Gwangyang became a testing ground for POSCO’s smart factory. During this process, the foundation for ‘PosFrame,’ POSCO’s unique smart platform, was created.

With PosFrame, POSCO could establish a system in which the company’s countless data and skills accumulated through the 51 years of its operation can be integrated and stored in one place.

How is this different from conventional digitization?

PosFrame is the world’s first smart factory platform specified for continuous manufacturing processes. The reason why ‘PosFrame’ is identified as a ‘platform’ is this: think of railway platforms. Railway platforms are where different types of trains pass through — be it bullet trains, express trains, or slower all-stop trains. A platform manages information about different types of trains — in this case, data — coming and going all the time. It’s a perfect system for 24/7 steelworks operation. The goal of PosFrame is to pinpoint the reason behind a product defect, if and when, by meticulously back-tracing the steelmaking process to figure out exactly where a variation might have occurred.

Furthermore, PosFrame goes beyond simple digitization. Whereas digitization simply stores information as data, PosFrame analyzes the data, enabling the development of automation models.
Here, a question might arise: isn’t automation something only reserved for experts? PosFrame’s ‘Workbench’ feature says no. Workbench is accessible to everyone. For example, field engineers can apply their expert knowledge and use the data to develop automation models so that the models can be utilized in various steelmaking processes. Thanks to the data collected and standardized by PosFrame, engineers can analyze information not only for the process they’re directly involved but also the processes that come before and after. PosFrame makes it easier for the engineers to tackle difficult issues that previously remained as random occurrences.

The incredibly accessible PosFrame accelerated POSCO’s advance into smart factories. Through PosFrame, all POSCO employees are turning into semi-AI experts.

To further its smartizaton process, POSCO has been providing smart tech training to all employees since 2017. The training is helping the employees take their skills to the next level towards establishing a more data-driven working environment.

Through the ‘POSCO the Lighthouse Factory #1,’ we introduced the core concepts behind POSCO’s smart factory. In the next episode, ‘POSCO the Lighthouse Factory #2: POSCO’s Smart Factory Transforms the Industry (The Cases),’ we will provide more concrete pictures on how POSCO’s smart factories operate. Stay tuned.

POSCO played a significant role in helping ZPP acquire the quality certification by supplying them with the API-X70 steel plate that is commonly used in API pipes. This certification shows that the products, management systems, and services are in line with the quality standards defined by the GAZPROMCERT system.

ZPP executives meet with POSCO on March 18 to conclude their marketing consultations. On March 23, Russia’s ZPP became certified by Gazprom, the world’s largest natural gas company, with the help of POSCO’s Solution Marketing.

By working with ZPP’s quality design group, steelworks, and research institute, POSCO helped them successfully pass Gazprom’s quality certification procedures – one example of POSCO’s efforts to pursue shared growth with its customers.

The Gazprom certification has enabled POSCO to rebuild its sales infrastructure in Russia, a vast market that demands more than 2 million tons of API plates per year. POSCO aims to continue strengthening its presence in Russia with its advanced steel products and solution marketing services. With ZPP, in particular, this could come in the form of providing diagnostic support for their equipment and steel plates.

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POSCO’s overseas employees participate in POSCO’s Global Mobility Program that includes seminars on Solution Marketing, POSTIM, POSCO’s values & culture, and a chance to get hands-on experience at the steelworks.

This year, the training took place from March 6 to 17 with nine employees from the following affiliates:

• POSCO-CSPC (China)
• Qingdao Pohang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. (China)
• Zhangjiagang Pohang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. (China)
• PT.KP (Indonesia)
• POSCO-Vietnam
• POSCO-TBPC (Thailand)
• POSCO-ICPC (India)
• PT Krakatau POSCO
• POSCO America

GMP participants just completed their two-week training program last week, which included on-site training and seminars on POSCO’s values, culture, and working systems. For the first week, participants learned about POSCO’s history along with different aspects of Korean language and culture. During the second week, there was a lecture on the work phases of a steel mill and participants visited the steelworks for a fuller understanding of the steel production process.

This year, POSCO made more of an effort to include material that would help participants have a greater understanding of POSCO’s management policies, such as solution marketing and POSTIM.  Additionally, participants were able to share their own unique work experiences and learn more about how POSCO operates around the world.

Participants continued their training, working with different departments. These included the Human Resources & Labor Relations Group of Gwangyang Works, the Plate Rolling Department, the Automotive Flat Products Exports Group, and POSCO Group University.

Through the GMP, POSCO Group University hopes to steadily foster the growth of future management leaders and experts with POSCO’s innovative DNA. The second training will be conducted in June.

The Steel Wire recently sat down with three GMP participants from POSCO China. Read their interview and find out more about the program and how it will impact their work in China. 

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Today, however, VR is rapidly moving from fiction to reality. There are many VR headsets available on the market, from expensive and sophisticated industrial models to basic consumer models designed to strap a mobile phone in front of your eyes.

A New Market of Amazing Possibilities

In just the two years since Google introduced its bare-bones Cardboard headset and Facebook about Oculus Rift, virtual reality has grown immensely. The amazing success of the augmented reality (AR) game Pokemon Go has spurred the development of this technology even faster. Some market analysts think this year the market for VR hardware and software combined will pass $1 billion for the first time. And one estimate has predicted that market could grow to a staggering $1 trillion by 2035.

The reason for that growth shows that VR is more than just a novelty or even a fun platform for entertainment. VR is also proving to be incredibly useful in a wide range of fields – for architecture and modeling, therapy, medicine, real estate, industrial training and more.

When it comes to therapy, for example, VR is helping people come to grips with a wide range of problems, such as their fear of heights or paranoia. Using VR, people can gently experience life-like situations, while maintaining control over the experience, allowing them to get used to their fears and perhaps even overcome them.

VR simulators can even replicate experiences no one has ever had – for instance, trying out life on Mars. The Martian VR Experience is a 30-minute interactive film that allows people to pretend they are traveling to and then living on the surface of the Red Planet.

Improving Production, Upping Safety

VR is also very useful when it comes to industry, government and other practical fields. Flight simulators have long been a key part of training pilots, both for the military and for commercial airlines, and now VR is taking the effectiveness of that training to the next level.

In medicine, VR is helping patients deal with a wide range of injuries and other issues. For surgeons, VR provides an opportunity to practice complicated techniques and experience rare situations, helping to boost their effectiveness in the operating room.

For engineers and architects, VR technology can help them experience what the final design is like, and see what it like from inside and outside and all angles. And for real estate, VR lets house-hunters explore a space from home, making the difficult task of house-hunting much more efficient and enjoyable.

Plus VR allows workers and other experience a huge range of environments and hone their skills in situations that normally would have been quite dangerous. Thanks for this amazing new technology, though, now they are train and work on their skills in a safe situation, until they are ready for the field.

POSCO Gets Real with VR

POSCO, too, is embracing the new and exciting world of VR, using it to highlight and improve its products. Recently POSCO filmed the entire steelmaking process in 360-degree video, from loading and unloading raw materials to shipping the final products, so anyone could experience what it is like to visit a steelworks in person. In addition to allowing viewers to see how steel is made, the VR movie also allowed people to get a close-up look at many parts of the steel process that are usually too dangerous for visitors.

That VR video was on display at Steel & Metal Korea 2016 (SMK 2016), held at the Ilsan KINTEX from September 27 to 30.

What’s next for VR? As more and more industries pour resources into R&D and try out promising new approaches, clearly the sky is the limit. More than just headsets, researchers are now adding interactive gloves and other technologies to make VR ever more immersive and realistic. Look for POSCO, as always, to be at the forefront of these new advances, using the next generation of technologies to lead the world of steel.

POSCO Stands Out at Steel & Metal Korea 2016

POSCO to Use VR Content to Promote Its Steel Products and Exceptional Manufacturing Process

Why Steel-Type Characters Win in Pokémon Go

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POSCO has been the No.1 steelmaker in the world for seven consecutive years. This remarkable achievement has been possible because of QSS+, which has allowed continuous improvements to be made in workplace environments, along with increases in facility competitiveness. This is the result of both tangible and intangible efforts made by the employees who created QSS+, the unique innovation DNA of POSCO. QSS+ originally evolved from previous programs Six Sigma and QSS.

QSS+ can be attributed to POSCO being able to maintain its competitive edge, regardless of crises. Over the past decade, employees have managed to reduce the rate of fine dust generation as well as facility complications and unexpected glitches. They have also boosted the operation ratio to 95% by focusing on completing over 8,000 assignments dedicated to improvement under the slogan, “We will protect our facilities ourselves.” The continuous efforts to undertake these types of assignments have also contributed to nurturing suitable talents for each site, improving trust between employees and establishing a positive organizational culture.

QSS+ is a derivative of Six Sigma and QSS. Having been adopted by global companies such as GE and Sony, Six Sigma is a management strategy for innovation that has been considered quite effective. POSCO determined Six Sigma as being useful for realizing financial achievement. However, it was difficult to learn and apply into the daily work process, which led to the establishment of POSCO’s unique innovation program, QSS+, in 2005.

POSCO operated a trial plant for about a year to confirm the effectiveness of the program, and officially started using QSS in May 2006. As QSS was suitable to use at sites and easily accessible by all employees, it helped companies in POSCO foster a culture dedicated to maintain healthier facilities.

QSS was adopted not only by the two main steelworks, but also by overseas subsidiaries and outsourcing partners. It has also been significantly effective in improving the environment and surrounding facilities, as well as in eliminating waste and inefficiencies. Many outside companies have requested to evaluate QSS for their own facilities. Small and medium-sized companies in areas such as Pohang, Gwangyang and Kyeongin have actually received QSS consulting from POSCO, and are noticeably improving their performance in management areas ranging from reduction in operation time and costs to enhancements in quality and productivity.

Executives and department heads inspecting facilities during the My M&S initiative activity. (Right, in November 2014)

POSCO has been carrying out its QSS+ program, which is the upgraded version of QSS, since August 2014. QSS+ is an activity program described as having been “innovated from an innovation program,” which reflects the characteristics of the facility-intensive steelworks. Moving beyond creating a clean workplace and restoring facility performance, the program focuses on improving the performance of core facilities with functions that are tailored to each department. With its focus on the three elements of Quality, Stability and Safety, QSS+ is a goal-oriented and site-driven innovation program. In particular, the company has begun a “Smart M&S” program this year which has incorporated the IoT (the Internet of Things) into My M&S in order to establish smart manufacturing sites.

POSCO has built healthy manufacturing sites through continuous innovation activities over the past decade. It will enhance the intrinsic value of the QSS+ program by claiming it as part of its unique innovative brand, reflecting the characteristics of each location under the philosophy, “The answers are found on site.”

QSS+, One More Step to ‘POSCO the Great’

Spreading QSS innovation activities to strengthen competitiveness of small- and medium-sized companies

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CSP, located in Ceara, a northeastern state of Brazil, is a steelworks jointly established by POSCO (20% stake), Dongkuk Steel (30% stake) and Vale (50% stake). The world’s largest iron ore producer Vale supplies iron ore ingredients while POSCO provides technology and operational support. Dongkuk Steel is in charge of procurement, logistics and general affairs.

More specifically, CSP is located in the Export Processing Zone (ZPE) in the Pecém industrial and port complex (CIPP) in Ceara. This allows the plant to utilize infrastructure provided by the Ceara state government, as well as load and unload raw materials, products and shipments more conveniently.

The CSP Steelworks began its construction in July 2012 and has now become fully operational. The 3800 m³ blast furnace plans to extract 3 million tons of molten iron annually to produce slabs.

CSP Steelworks expects to increase slab production of Brazil by 48% and the state GDP of Ceara by 12%, and at the same time generate new 16,000 jobs. Among the new positions will be 2,800 for its own and 1,200 for outsourcing companies. It looks like CSP will not only contribute to boosting the country’s economy, but also help promote a friendlier relationship between Korea and Brazil.

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POSCO Begins
As Korea opened its first modern steel plant, many foreign and domestic businesses remained skeptical of Seoul’s large investment in developing its own industry domestically. Despite this, under the leadership of Park Taejoon, who was then President of Korea Tungsten Co., Ltd, POSCO was established as a joint venture between the Korean government and Korea Tungsten Co., Ltd. Production began in 1972, just four years after the company’s inauguration, with thirty-nine employees.
POSCO first sold plate products in 1972, focusing its sales domestically to improve steel self-sufficiency in Korea. It made special efforts to supply quality iron and steel at more affordable prices to strengthen competitiveness.
In 1980, POSCO produced 6.2 million tons of raw steel, recording a 13 percent increase over the previous year, and was one of the few companies to do so during a time of economic depression in Korea. Through domestic sales and exporting any over-produced products, POSCO came to be the most efficient global steel producer of certain steel products.

Becoming POSCO
By the late 1980s, POSCO was the fifth biggest steel company in the world, with an annual production reaching nearly 12 million tons. POSCO continued to expand even as the steel industries of the U.S. and Japan were declining. Through the 1980s, POSCO was the world’s most productive steel manufacturer and also had the most advanced facilities.
POSCO helped revitalize the city of Pohang, which was previously a fishing port whose major industry was processing fish and marine products. It soon became a major industrial center with almost 520,000 people. As POSCO continued to grow, opportunities for companies that manufacture finished steel products from raw materials also grew.
In 1993, after the resignation of its founding president, POSCO changed its organizational structure. The new system emphasized flexibility, autonomy and a consensual decision-making process. It dissolved the strict hierarchy to create a team-focused culture.
In the year 2000, POSCO moved to privatization. As part of that process, POSCO introduced a new performance-based evaluation and compensation system, as well as a global standardization system. Thanks to robust demand at home and in China, POSCO recorded the largest profits in the global steel industry in 2004. Net earnings from POSCO’s steel products increased by 80 percent in 2004 from the previous year.

Global POSCO
With the increased pressure of global competition, POSCO looked to China and India for new opportunities. In 2006, POSCO started operating Zhangjiagang Pohang Stainless Steel (ZPSS) steel mill, with an annual production capacity of 600,000 tons of stainless steel and hot-rolled products in China’s Jiangsu Province. POSCO became the first foreign firm operating an integrated stainless steel mill in China, handling the entire production process to finished products.
POSCO has also pursued investments in emerging countries such as India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico. With these projects, POSCO hopes to improve the lives of people around the world by providing jobs and the materials to construct housing, waste management systems and more.

POSCO the Great
Since 1998, POSCO has led the world in crude steel production through its relentless efforts and fearless determination.
Starting from just a vision, POSCO has continued to strive for greatness with an enthusiastic spirit for overcoming challenges, leading Korea’s steel industry to this day. Now, POSCO is reinstating its mission to become POSCO the Great once again. POSCO continues to contribute to Korea’s economy and to the global economy.
With a philosophy of gaining respect through trust, POSCO aims to instill hope and make way for dreams by providing materials and energy in the most efficient way possible, and being a company that makes the world better.

Košice, Slovakia: A Steel-Inspired Capital of Culture

As one of the oldest industrial hubs of Slovakia, steel production has played a vital role in the economy of the eastern city of Košice for quite some time. The main development of iron started in the 13^th century and the technology of steel production progressively improved until 1959 when a deed was signed for a modern metallurgy plant. Five decades later, the Košice mill has developed into a steel-producing plant that has managed to widely reach the markets and achieve a position among significant steel producers.

 Košice has since reforged itself into a city of the arts, and was designated “European Capital of Culture” in 2013, along with Marseille, France, for its efforts to transform dilapidated industrial structures into contemporary art galleries, performance theaters and independent culture centers. In addition to the city’s gorgeous Gothic architecture, it is also home to the renowned ice hockey team HC Košice that plays regularly at the Steel Aréna. (Image: http://bit.ly/1CjHtVM )

Visakhapatnam, India: Steelworks on the Sea

Often coined The Jewel of the East Coast, the port city of Visakhapatnam was identified as one of the fastest-growing in the world, economically and demographically, with steel playing an important role.

In the 1970s, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, announced the government’s decision to establish a steel plant at Visakhapatnam. It has since become the only Indian shore-based steel plant and is situated on 33,000 acres, making the city a gateway for the development of the steel industry.

In addition to its flourishing economy, Visakhapatnam’s beaches, hilltop parks, caves and wildlife sanctuaries have helped the city become a significant tourist destination of natural beauty. Its serene temples, such as Simhachalam Temple, allow visitors to experience the spiritual side of India. (Image: http://bit.ly/1JR9l3k )

Pittsburgh, USA: The Original Steel City

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania became one of the most well-known steel cities in the world during the American Civil War, when the city’s economy was amplified by the increased production of iron and weaponry. By 1911, Pittsburgh was producing half of the nation’s steel, and during World War II, the city saw local mills operate 24 hours a day to produce 95 million tons of the metal.

Today, Pittsburgh may not produce as much as it did in its heyday, but the “Steel City” still boasts more than 300 steel-related businesses and visitors can even go on steel tours. Additionally, the city’s most visited attractions, such as the Carnegie Museum, founded by Andrew Carnegie, the most influential figure in the expansion of America’s steel industry, as well as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a stunning house that uses steel as a main building material, are a testament to the importance the metal still plays in this historical and cultural city. Sports fans shouldn’t miss out on a Steelers football game. (Image: http://bit.ly/1LPF7jt )

Newcastle, Australia: Surf & Steel

When military rule ended in 1823, the penal settlement that was originally Newcastle advanced into a pioneer town. The dawn of the 20^th century saw the city evolve into a site for steelworks, due to its abundance of coal. In 1915, a local steelworks opened, beginning a period of some 8 decades in which Newcastle’s fortunes were brought on by the steelworks and heavy industries. A deadly earthquake struck in 1989 and ten years later, the steelworks closed after 84 years of operation, having employed about 50,000 throughout its existence.

Creative repurposing has transformed the old and outdated to new and trendy, and art projects and festivals have allowed inner-city neighborhoods to prosper. It is along the sandy shores of “Best in Travel”-ranked Newcastle that bohemian culture meets surf culture and top-rated restaurants overlook an industrial port. Today, even as Newcastle embraces its rough-and-tumble industrial past, it is continuously looking to the future as a regional capital of creativity and cool.

Whether you’re traveling to the Australian coast or the cultural capital of Slovakia, these vacation destinations forged from steel and sweat have plenty to offer travelers seeking new experiences and wanting to explore unfamiliar lands. Safe travels this summer! (Image: http://bit.ly/1H6mPVJ )

Haeundae Beach, a picturesque stretch of white sand in eastern Busan, is vital to the southern coastal city in that it operates as one of the biggest tourist destinations in Korea. Each summer, millions flock to the beach to soak up the sun, feast on succulent seafood and partake in a number of festivals and watersports.

The district’s landscape has undoubtedly changed over the years, but is more vibrant and dynamic than ever before, boasting a slew of natural, historical and contemporary tourist destinations.

Haeundae’s Most Loved Landmarks

Perhaps one of Haeundae’s most cherished landmarks is Dongbaek Island, which is actually now an extension of the mainland. Shrouded in dongbaek trees and evergreens, the small, lush island is an ideal place to be in the midst of Mother Nature herself.

Nurimaru APEC House (Image source: http://bit.ly/1EWMLWi)

Situated on the tip of Dongbaek Island is the Nurimaru APEC House, which was constructed in preparation for the 17th APEC summit in 2005 and has since become representative of Busan. The building’s roof was designed to complement the curves of the island on which it sits, and it offers impressive views of the district’s coastline.

Yonggungsa Temple (Image source: http://bit.ly/1QlqUM0)

On the opposite end of Haeundae lies Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which was first built in 1376. This Buddhist temple is not only serene, but is extremely unique in that unlike most Korean temples, which are located in the mountains, it is set on a cliff overlooking the ocean. In addition to Buddha’s Birthday, when the temple is canopied in colorful lanterns, crowds flock here on New Year’s Day to watch the first sunrise of the year.

Another favorite Haeundae hotspot is the Sea Life Busan Aquarium, which is home to about 250 species and 35,000 marine animals. Children and adults of all ages enjoy the regularly scheduled activities and shows, and visitors can even have the chance to scuba dive with sharks in the main tank.

While these are the area’s most recognized destinations, another addition to Haeundae’s sandy shore is in the works and it promises to emerge as a representative landmark, contributing greatly to the area’s tourism industry.

A New Addition to Busan’s Best Beach

On April 17, POSCO E&C (CEO Tae-Hyun Hwang) signed a construction contract for a “Haeundae tourist resort city development project” with LCT PFV, the lead developer of the project, which will include a 101-story tower and two 85-story residential buildings, at an expected total cost of 2.7 trillion won.

The Landmark Tower Residence Hotel will consist of 561 standard units and 260 luxury units, and the two residential towers will accommodate 882 households. The complex will also be a one-stop-shop for all things lifestyle, complete with facilities for leisure, recreation, shopping and business.

POSCO E&C has been selected as the contractor for this project because of its brand value, construction capabilities and straightforward financing. Furthermore, POSCO E&C has a record of completing a number of large urban development projects, such as the Northeast Asia Trade Center in Songdo International City.

CEO Tae-hyun Hwang noted, “Through this project, POSCO E&C will prove its technical skills and construction abilities by perfectly constructing the complex, a future landmark of Busan. Also, we will use this as an opportunity to contribute to the development of the domestic construction business.”

So, the next time you’re in Haeundae enjoying all the wonderful things it has to offer, be sure not to miss any of its iconic destinations and catch a glimpse of the construction project that will most certainly be the city’s next representative landmark.