Harit Keawmuang, selected as a POSCO Asia Fellow in the fall of 2022, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Originally from Thailand, Harit completed his undergraduate studies in his home country and went on to earn a master’s degree in Hungary, Europe. He came to Korea to begin his doctoral studies as a POSCO Asia Fellow*. In this interview, Harit shares his heartfelt journey—from his decision to study in Korea, to his experience as a fellow, and his aspirations to contribute to sustainable technological development in Thailand.

*The POSCO Asia Fellowship is a scholarship program operated by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation. It invites outstanding talent from various Asian countries to Korea to support their master’s and doctoral degrees, and aims to promote exchange and mutual understanding among Asian countries.

Hello, my name is Harit Keawmuang, and I’m from Thailand. Thai people usually have nicknames, and mine is “Game.” Even in Korea, my professors and friends call me by this nickname.

​I completed my undergraduate degree in Thailand, then earned a master’s degree in Hungary. In the fall of 2022, I was very fortunate to be selected as a POSCO Asia Fellow, which brought me to Korea to pursue my Ph.D. I’m now in my third year of the Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering at POSTECH, focusing on the field of nanophotonics.

Nanophotonics is a field that studies how to manipulate light using extremely small structures. The prefix “nano” refers to a unit that is one-billionth of a meter. We study how to guide and shape light through these tiny structures. One example is the “metalens”—an ultra-thin lens composed of nanostructures. These lenses can focus light without the need for traditional thick glass, making them particularly useful for smartphones, compact cameras, and medical devices.

While preparing to study in Korea, I was looking for scholarships and came across the POSCO Asia Fellowship. I learned that it offered not only financial support but also a platform for connecting with other talented students from across Asia studying in Korea. That drew me in, and I decided to apply.

​When I found out I had been selected, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy. At the same time, I was a bit sad about being apart from my family. Still, I believed this would be a meaningful step in both my personal and academic journey. I was confident and ready to embrace the new challenges ahead.

The POSCO Asia Fellowship and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation provided not only financial support but also emotional care. Thanks to their thoughtful consideration and encouragement, my life in Korea became much smoother. One of the most memorable moments was attending an alumni gathering in Pohang. It was a delightful experience where I got to enjoy food and conversations with alumni from various countries, including fellow Thai seniors.

​Another memory that stands out is receiving gifts from the Foundation during Korean holidays. After a long day, coming back to my dorm to find a warm gift left at my door was truly comforting. Those moments reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and they meant a lot to me.

There were three main reasons I decided to study in Korea. First, I had a long-standing interest in Korean culture, especially through Korean dramas, which sparked my curiosity about Korean life and language. Over time, I developed a desire to experience life in Korea firsthand.

​Second, I wanted to shift my academic journey from Europe to Asia. In Thailand, graduation ceremonies are very important to families, especially to older generations. My grandmother, who raised me, couldn’t attend my undergraduate ceremony, and due to distance and health issues, she also missed my master’s graduation. I hoped that by studying in Asia, she might be able to attend my Ph.D. graduation, which was a strong motivation for me.

​Third, I wanted to study nanotechnology and nanophotonics—fields that are still developing in Thailand. POSTECH, in particular, has excellent research environments, outstanding faculty, and cutting-edge facilities. I believed it was the ideal place for me to grow in this field.

I am conducting research in nanotechnology, specifically in the field of nanophotonics. As mentioned earlier, this field explores how to manipulate light through extremely small structures. My current research focuses on a technology called Photonic Radiative Cooling.

​This technology uses nanostructures to reflect sunlight and radiate heat, cooling objects to temperatures even lower than the surrounding air, all without using electricity. It’s a highly practical and eco-friendly cooling method, different from traditional air conditioners.

​I chose this field not only because it is fascinating, but also because Thailand still has a long way to go in this area. Nanophotonics is rapidly evolving worldwide and holds great innovation potential. In a hot and humid country like Thailand, this kind of energy-efficient cooling technology could make a significant impact. My goal is to contribute to the development of sustainable cooling systems in Thailand—technology that could benefit everyday life and help solve environmental issues.

As a Ph.D. student, my immediate goal is to produce meaningful research and publish high-quality results. After completing my degree, I hope to return to Thailand and work as a professor or researcher, contributing to the advancement of nanotechnology and nanophotonics in my country. Most of all, I want to spend time with my family, who have supported me throughout this journey, and repay their love and encouragement by living closely with them.

To students who are currently chasing their dreams or going through tough times, I want to say: even if you feel like giving up, you can overcome it. I wasn’t very focused in school and often gave up easily. But once I started thinking about what matters—myself and the people who care about me—I began to focus and change.

​If you feel like you don’t have the strength to fight for yourself, think about those you love. For me, my mother and my family were my greatest sources of strength.

​To be honest, I wasn’t someone with grand ambitions or dreams. I simply wanted to be a better person, make my mom proud, and protect my family by doing something I love. What I’ve learned is that you don’t need a big dream or a flashy goal to move forward. Sometimes, the small motivations tied to those you care about can become a powerful force that changes your life. Rather than big plans, it might be the precious people right beside you who push you forward.

To me, POSCO and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation are not just a company or a foundation. As a POSCO Asia Fellow, I feel a deep sense of pride and belonging, not just as a scholarship recipient, but as a member of a community that truly believes in and supports me. I know that everything I’ve accomplished in Korea was not achieved alone. It was made possible because of POSCO’s support. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank POSCO and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation once again.

*This content was created based on an interview article by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.

Validated global competitiveness by integrating and utilizing POSCO Group’s comprehensive LNG value chain

POSCO E&C has secured a KRW 1.5 trillion contract for the Gulf MTP (Map Ta Phut) LNG Terminal project in Thailand, further expanding its presence in the global LNG market.

On June 30, POSCO E&C signed a deal with Gulf Development in Bangkok to undertake a major national infrastructure project, which includes the construction of two 250,000㎥ LNG storage tanks, unloading facilities, and regasification systems with an annual processing capacity of 8 million tons.

The Gulf MTP LNG Terminal, to be located in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate about 130 kilometers from Bangkok, marks Thailand’s first public-private partnership LNG terminal project. It is commissioned jointly by Gulf Development, one of Thailand’s leading private energy investors, and PTT Tank Terminal, a subsidiary of the state-owned energy company PTT.

POSCO E&C has carried out more than 20 projects in Thailand since 2002, and its track record continues to help the company stand apart in the local construction sector.

This latest contract win is particularly significant as the company secured the project through fierce competition with three global contenders from Japan, China, and Lebanon. POSCO E&C’s proven track record of successfully delivering LNG terminal projects—both domestically in Gwangyang, Jeju Aewol, and Samcheok, and internationally in Thailand and Panama—played a decisive role.

Since 2010, POSCO E&C has operated a dedicated LNG terminal business unit, executing a wide range of projects including LNG storage tanks, jetty facilities, and regasification systems. It is now recognized as the only EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) company in Korea with fully self-developed design capabilities in the LNG terminal sector.

This project also highlights the synergy across the POSCO Group, which is building a comprehensive LNG value chain covering production, transportation, storage, sales, and construction. The Gulf MTP project demonstrates POSCO Group’s ability to leverage this integrated value chain to strengthen its competitiveness in overseas markets.

In Korea, POSCO E&C recently completed the construction of LNG Tanks No. 5 and 6 in Gwangyang using POSCO’s world-first high-manganese steel, and is currently working on Tanks No. 7 and 8. Additionally, the company is constructing regasification and unloading facilities at the Dangjin LNG production base, led by Korea Gas Corporation.

A POSCO E&C official stated, “Our EPC capabilities and LNG expertise accumulated through domestic and international projects led to this achievement. It once again proves POSCO E&C’s leadership in LNG terminal construction. Going forward, POSCO Group will continue to expand into global markets by maximizing its LNG value chain.”

▲POSCO E&C signs a contract with Thailand’s Gulf Development for the Gulf MTP LNG Terminal project.

▲POSCO E&C signs a contract with Thailand’s Gulf Development for the Gulf MTP LNG Terminal project and poses for a commemorative photo.

▲A view of the PTT LNG Terminal #2 project completed by POSCO E&C in Thailand in 2017

At the Rayong labor management excellence awards hosted by the Thai ministry of labor on March 19, POSCO Thainox (President tae-hyung Kang) was selected as White Factory in the categories of ‘labor-management relations’ and ‘drug addiction prevention management.’

▲ At the Rayong labor management excellence awards hosted by the Thai Ministry of Labor on March 19, POSCO Thainox (President Tae-hyung Kang) was selected as white factory in the categories of ‘labor-management relations’ and ‘drug addiction prevention management.’ From left, tae-hyung Kang, president of POSCO Thainox, Peepong, chairman of the Welfare committee of POSCO Thainox, and Amnuay, director of Rayong provincial labor office.

The Thai ministry of labor selects companies with excellent labor-management relations by comprehensively evaluating their efforts to create a happy workplace, such as improving employee satisfaction, protecting human rights, and operating employee representative organizations, providing winners with additional points in the human rights category for the Thai government’s excellent ESG company program.

It also selects excellent companies in drug addiction prevention management by evaluating their efforts to eradicate the use of psychotropic drugs in their business sites, such as changes in employee awareness and effective inspection activities.

In the event, POSCO Thainox was selected as white company in labor-management relations for improving the working environment and enhancing employee satisfaction based on the operation of communication channels such as the harmony communicator at the department level and the company-wide welfare committee, as well as the quarterly voice of employee(VOE) survey. The company was also selected as white company in drug addiction prevention management for its efforts to prevent drug addiction, such as promulgating a zero-tolerance policy for the use of all types of drugs, including cannabis, which is partially permitted under Thai law, and conducting drug tests on all employees once or twice a year in cooperation with local police.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to POSCO Thainox for its continuous and effective efforts for labor-management relations and drug addiction prevention management. I hope that the company will continue to produce good results as a model company in Thailand,” said Amnuay, director of the Rayong provincial labor office.

“As a listed company in Thailand, we will be committed to improving the safety and satisfaction of our employees with a sense of responsibility,” said tae-hyung Kang, president of POSCO Thainox.

POSCO FLOW (President Ban Don-ho) has entered the Southeast Asian logistics market by signing a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Thai logistics company Kerry Siam Seaport (KSSP) on February 14 in Bangkok, Thailand, to establish the logistics joint venture POSCO FLOW (THAILAND).

▲ Representatives celebrate signing the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) to establish POSCO FLOW (THAILAND) in Bangkok on February 14. (From left: Park Min-gi, General Manager of POSCO TCS; Kim Hak-il, Team Leader of POSCO THAINOX; Ha Jong-beom, Team Leader of POSCO FLOW; Ellis Cheng, CFO of KLN; Supawiratchpuncha, Executive Director; Benjathaonsirikul, Executive Director)

KSSP, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, is a Hong Kong-based Kerry Logistics Network (KLN) Group subsidiary. The company operates terminals around Laem Chabang Port, adjacent to major industrial complexes, including POSCO Group’s Thai subsidiaries.

KSSP is noted for its excellent terminal security and quality control, along with sufficient infrastructure to meet the growing demands in Southeast Asia. Through this joint venture with KSSP, POSCO FLOW has secured a solid foundation for Southeast Asian expansion.
After a year of preparation, both companies have established this cooperative framework through the joint venture. Through POSCO FLOW (THAILAND), the company will provide logistics services that help strengthen the competitiveness of POSCO Group companies in Thailand.

Since its launch in 2022, POSCO FLOW has expanded its logistics network to Europe, North America, and China based on its master plan for operating an integrated global logistics network. With this joint venture, the company plans to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia by using Thailand as a hub.

POSCO FLOW (THAILAND) will provide logistics services, including transportation, storage, and loading/unloading of materials and products for POSCO Group companies in Thailand. The company plans to internalize logistics capabilities by directly operating loading/unloading and land transportation services while enhancing profitability by attracting new regional cargo volume and expanding joint logistics operations.

Ha Jong-beom, Head of Steel Logistics Division, stated, “Based on the Thai subsidiary, POSCO FLOW will first secure steel logistics competitiveness in the Thai market and use this as a stepping stone to expand our business into the Southeast Asian market. Through cooperation with KSSP, we will strive to provide optimal logistics solutions to POSCO Group companies in Thailand and contribute to securing their cost competitiveness.”

Presented examples of waste reduction and resource recycling initiatives, such as sludge recycling and packaging reuse, while also operating a promotional booth

POSCO Thainox participated in the ‘Circular Economy Seminar’ on October 2, hosted by Thailand’s Department of Primary Industries and Mines under the Ministry of Industry. At the seminar, it shared its exemplary circular economy practices.

The circular economy aims to reform the traditional linear economic model of resource extraction, use, and disposal. By minimizing the materials used and waste generated in production and maximizing recycling, circular economy activities help address resource depletion and reduce environmental pollution, aligning with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals.

Since 2022, the Thai government has selected five companies annually that excel in ESG management activities as representatives of the circular economy. These companies are highlighted at the Circular Economy Seminar, where their best practices are shared, providing insights for advancing Thailand’s circular economy.

In June of this year, POSCO Thainox was honored to be named a representative circular economy company, alongside global home appliance and battery manufacturer Panasonic and ThaiBev, one of the most preferred employers among Thai university students. POSCO Thainox presented its circular economy initiatives at the seminar and operated a promotional booth showcasing related products.

POSCO Thainox has contributed to waste reduction by recycling sludge previously sent to landfills for use as cement material and reusing paper and packaging materials multiple times. Additionally, the company produces and donates police shields and bulletproof plates for vests using scrap generated during production as part of its broader CSR activities, further promoting the circular economy.

Dr. Teerawut, Director of Industrial Innovation at the Department of Primary Industries and Mines, expressed his admiration, stating, “I am impressed by POSCO Thainox’s high rate of waste material recycling. I encourage the company to continue its efforts in discovering new practical examples of innovation that can expand the circular economy and contribute to the development of Thailand’s manufacturing sector.”

▲POSCO Thainox attended the “Circular Economy Seminar” hosted by the Thai government on October 2 and operated a promotional booth. POSCO Thainox President Hyeong-gu Shin(first from left) explains the company’s circular economy practices to Chawanan (first from right), a materials engineering specialist from the Department of Primary Industries and Mines.

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!

*This footage was taken before the outbreak of COVID-19.

In the first series of ‘How Do You Like POSCO?’ POSCO Newsroom sat down with the employees of PT.KRAKATAU POSCO in Indonesia. This time, the newsroom headed to Thailand to meet the special guests of today. Thailand is known to be the largest automobile market in Southeast Asia and one of the world’s Top 10 automobile manufacturers.

Among the three manufacturing subsidiaries that POSCO operates in Thailand, POSCO-Thailand PC(Processing Center) is the oldest. Launched in 1997, POSCO-Thailand PC is still under operation and supplies automobile and home appliance steel products. In 2011, POSCO acquired Thainox, the sole stainless rolling mill in Thailand, to expand the product range. POSCO ventured further by establishing POSCO-TCS in 2016 to meet the demands of global automobile steel products. POSCO-TCS manufactures premium galvanized steel for automobiles.

All three subsidiaries sit in ‘Rayong,’ Thailand’s largest industrial complex located 170 km away from the capital, Bangkok. POSCO Newsroom met with four employees of POSCO-Thainox online and got a chance to hear their stories.

■ “Making History with POSCO-Thainox!”

Q1. Tell us briefly about yourself and how you became to join POSCO-Thainox.

Q2. Tell us about your job in detail.

Q3. How do people around you react when you tell them you work at POSCO-Thainox?

■ “Growing Together with the Best Colleagues”

Q4. What makes POSCO-Thainox special compared to other local companies?

Q5. How are your Korean colleagues? How do you get along with the local employees?

Ever since POSCO and Thainox came together in 2011, POSCO-Thainox has grown into Thailand’s No.1 stainless steel plate producer. POSCO Newsroom hopes the four employees here — along with the 568 employees working at POSCO-Thainox — will grow with POSCO and become the leaders of tomorrow. At the end of the interview, Paiboon, Prateep, Sujira, and Ji-Yeon expressed their hopes for the company.

•Meet SV Min Keun Bae – The Master of POSCO-Thainox

More than 100 people attended the dedication ceremony, including Jeong-sik Kwak, the head of POSCO’s External Relations Office, the vice-governor of Rayong, Thailand, the representative of Habitat for Humanity Thailand, the POSCO Group Employee Volunteer Corps and members of the local community.

Jeong-shik Kwak, head of the ER Department of POSCO said, “The Thailand love houses are especially meaningful because the employees of POSCO Group donated 1 percent of their salaries and participated in the construction process. I hope that these love houses will give hope to locals in need.”

POSCO representatives and locals at the dedication ceremony of the love houses in Pluak Daeng, Thailand.

The construction was completed by 50 volunteers of the POSCO Group Employee Global Volunteer Corps from Korea, and 30 employees of POSCO Thainox, POSCO-TCS and POSCO-TBPC.

New resident Tun Kedwarin was moved to tears and stated, “In my old house made of wooden boards, water kept leaking and the house was in danger of collapsing. I was always worried, but now I can sleep without fear, and I am truly happy. I am grateful to POSCO and the government who built me a house.”

POSCO Group Employee Global Volunteer Corps members and Pichamon, a new resident of the love house.

POSCO Group Employee Global Volunteer Corps was established in 2015, and consists of employees of POSCO Group and outsourcing partners who donate 1 percent of their monthly salary. It’s all a part of POSCO’s unique culture of volunteering and giving back to communities.

This year, the members spent 8 days in Thailand starting from August 5, during their personal vacation days and also visited a local school to introduce Korean traditional culture to the students.

OSCO Group volunteers and Thai global staff members worked together for the construction of the love houses.

POSCO also completed 104 houses in Vietnam last May, and donated them to low-income families. In Korea, POSCO constructed steel houses made from PosMAC and donated them to victims of fires and low-income families around the country, all as part of the effort to give back and build stronger communities around the world.

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

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

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

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

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In particular, through the recent zero-tariff measures taken among ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) member states and the Thai government’s push for more eco-friendly cars, the market is expected to see high growth potential with an expanded annual production capacity of 2.8 million by 2020.

POSCO TCS is positioned to take advantage of Thailand’s growing auto market.

Due to the growing auto market in Thailand, demand for automotive steel is also on the rise. Thai car makers all prefer to receive materials from local suppliers, so steel companies have begun building subsidiaries in the area.

POSCO TCS Opens in Thailand

In August of last year, POSCO TCS opened near Bangkok with a production capacity of 450,000 tons. With a local supply facility in Southeast Asia, POSCO can provide steel to automakers and parts manufacturers at more affordable rates and with higher quality control.

Chotika Arusawat (Procurement, left) explains the tax benefits for locally produced steel at POSCO TCS.

Chotika Arunsawat in the Procurement Department noted that “If automakers in the Southeast Asian region import POSCO steel from Korea they need to pay over 17% in taxes, but with POSCO TCS, they pay 0%. Also, the nearby Laem Chabang Port is one of the busiest container ports in the world making shipments to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia quick and simple.”

Having a local facility allows POSCO to build stronger strategic partnerships by smoothly supplying materials to global automakers and parts manufacturers in one of the largest car markets in the world. Narisara Im-Tua, who works in the Sales Department, told us that 85% of the steel products coming off the line were going to car makers and auto parts manufacturers, making POSCO TCS one of the largest steel suppliers in the region.

POSCO TCS is Defined by Superior Quality & Service

The plan to develop POSCO TCS began in 2011 with construction starting in 2014. When POSCO TCS went online in August 2016, other steel companies had already entered the market. However, POSCO is using its strategic advantages in production technologies, automotive steel expertise, and advanced production facilities to gain an upper hand.   

POSCO TCS President Lee Jin-soo says he is optimistic about the future of POSCO TCS in Thailand and the Southeast Asian.

In a recent interview, POSCO TCS President Lee Jin-soo noted that “POSCO is currently implementing systematic technology support with knowledge gleaned from other automotive steel facilities in Mexico, Indonesia, and China. Although other companies may have a head start, the future for POSCO TCS is looking bright due to our superior facilities and higher quality.”

To be a leader in the Southeast Asian region, POSCO TCS realizes it must manufacture superior products and offer better service than its competitors. Lee emphasized that POSCO TCS is “competing in the same industry to serve the same clients alongside some of the world’s best. Every employee at POSCO TCS must be devoted to securing a competitive advantage in all aspects of business.”

When asked how POSCO TCS can compete with other steel companies that have been in the region longer, Narisara Im-Tua stated matter-of-factly, “Because our quality is so high.” She added that POSCO TCS sends samples to Korea every 1-2 weeks for quality certificates and because of their consistently high-quality ratings, automotive customers are very happy.

Piyakun Boonmee (HR) explains POSCO’s commitment to quality for its customers.

Piyakun Boonmee in HR recounted the story of when a customer called Sales about a product that was not fitting in with their production process. The Sales Department reacted immediately, sending the Customer Service Department to the customer’s facility to check the product and production line. POSCO came back and worked to fine-tune the product so that it fit the customer’s specific production needs.

Boonmee stated that POSCO TCS customers “can contact our Customer Service Department at any time if there are any perceived quality issues. Our Quality Control Department will go directly to the customer’s factory to check the product and the production line. We work together with the customer to fine-tune the product until we are sure it meets the customer’s needs.”

A Culture of Trust & Leadership

We asked employees how POSCO TCS could maintain such high standards and quality for its products while also building strong relationships with its customers and employees. The most common response was about the healthy working environment.  

President Lee Jin-soo told us that “If you are respectful and considerate of everyone, employees are better able to work together and build a great product – regardless of cultural barriers or where they are from. For better performance, we empower them with training and the skills they need to succeed and we take care of any issues with respect.”  

Also, at POSCO TCS each employee is provided with 30-40 hours of training per year. These classes include everything from leadership and communications to learning Korean.

Everyone agreed that POSCO TCS was a great place to work, making it easier to work together for the customer.

When asked what it was like to work at POSCO TCS, Piyakun Boonmee said, “At POSCO TCS we are like a family and it is a happy place to work. Even though we work in separate teams, we are not separate, we work together for the customer – always striving to learn more and do better.”

Boonmee added, “In the future if we continue working like a family, we will be the #1 company in Thailand. After that, we’ll be number #1 in Southeast Asia. And we all share that goal.”

Throughout April & May, The Steel Wire will explore the uses and benefits of POSCO GIGA STEEL and what POSCO is doing to lead the industry with new automotive steel solutions.  Don’t miss any of the exciting stories from The Steel Wire – subscribe via email today.