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!

▲ The center director of POSCO-TNPC and eight employees made and delivered a donation set (including a 2-month supply of diapers) to support low-income families such as single mothers and disabled children at the Women’s Support Center in Bursa. It was meaningful in that the costs of the donated sets were funded by savings in electricity bills and costs associated with replacing the company’s LEDs and purchasing waste paper collection boxes.

▲ POSCO-ASSAN TST employees visited a kindergarten near its head office, created a new playground using waste wood, and performed environmental improvement by repainting old play equipment.

▲ POSCO-PWPC visited a nearby organization for disabled children and held an event to promote Korean culture through Korean language classes. The 10 participating employees communicated with the children by teaching them simple Korean greetings and writing their names in Korean.

▲ Four POSCO-Brazil employees conducted environmental cleanup activities at Bosque de Barra Park in downtown Rio de Janeiro on May 28.

▲ POSCO-Mexico employees volunteered to make bread at the Hope Center in downtown Altamira with officials from the Tamaulipas State Department of Welfare. This volunteer activity was especially meaningful in that employees and their families participated.

▲ Employees of four POSCO-MPPC factories carried out various volunteer activities for nine days. Employees of Factory 1 visited a local daycare center, painted classroom walls and floors, and cleaned vegetables and fruits to be delivered to nearby neighbors in need at a food bank. Employees of Factory 2 visited the government agency DIF and donated walkers, canes, and computers. They also visited a public kindergarten and donated playground equipment and computers. Employees of Factory 3 painted a government-supported soup kitchen, and those of Factory 4 visited a local orphanage and donated chairs.

▲ POSCO-MVWPC’s 42 employees visited a local school to paint the exterior walls of the school buildings and replace floor tiles, creating comfortable areas throughout the school to encourage students’ learning activities.

▲ All 52 employees of the AAPC Factory in the United States collected waste around each business site as part of their environmental cleanup activities.

▲ POSCO-America’s nine employees visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects and collected trash around the tombstone.

▲ POSCO-Australia employees held a joint event with KCCA, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and discussed plans for charity activities, and 55 members and their families participated in a charity walking competition to support children with neuroblastoma and completed a 5-kilometer walking course.

▲ POSCO-Western Australia employees conducted environmental cleanup by collecting trash around the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia and cleaned pollutants from the monument.

▲ Thirty-five members of the Mexican Trading Corporation’s volunteer group visited a child and youth protection center in Mexico City, donated various items, and interacted with the children by playing piñata, a traditional Mexican game. (Right) Eight members of the POSCO International Mexico Motor Core Corporation visited a nearby elementary school, presented a first aid kit, cleaning supplies, and school supply sets, and held a tree planting ceremony.

▲ (Left) Nine members of a volunteer group at POSCO International Brazil’s Sao Paulo office donated relief goods for recovery from a flood to victims of heavy rain in Ihu Grande do Sul, Brazil. (Right) Eleven members of the POSCO International BA branch’s volunteer group donated daily necessities and served dinner to low-income and disabled families in a slum in Buenos Aires.

▲ (Left) Eight members of the Bogota branch visited the Red Cross in Bogota and practiced love for their neighbors by donating blood. (Right) Five members of the Panama branch’s volunteer group visited the Panama Canal Miraflores Visitor Center to collect trash and carry out environmental cleanup activities.

▲ Volunteer groups at the German and Italian trading corporations visited a park near the head office and carried out environmental cleanup activities.

▲One hundred and nineteen members of the Uzbek Cotton Corporation’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleaning activities inside and outside the corporation’s factory and around the Fergana region.

▲ (Left) Five members of the Dammam branch’s volunteer group visited nearby Al Khor Beach and carried out environmental cleanup activities on the shore by collecting trash discarded by tourists. (Right) Six members of the Cairo branch’s volunteer group planted 20 lemon trees and 20 pomegranate trees around El Horreya Women’s Hospital.

▲ Eight members of the Johannesburg branch’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleanup activities by picking up trash around the branch office and removing fallen leaves that had been neglected for a long time.

▲ Eleven members of the Tokyo head office’s volunteer group planted flowers in flower beds at nearby Tsukiji River Ginza Park, cleaned up the area around the park, visited a senior center to clean balconies and windows on each floor and organized the garden.

▲ Members of the Osaka branch’s volunteer group visited a nearby orphanage and provided necessary items such as strollers, car seats, and rice and served meals to the homeless in the park.

▲ (Left) Thirteen members of the Nagoya branch’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleanup activities in the Nagoya Castle area. (Right) Twenty-six members of the Beijing branch’s volunteer group visited a nearby senior welfare center to donate necessary items, make meat dumplings, and serve a warm dinner to local seniors living alone.

▲ (Left) Five members of the Qingdao branch’s volunteer group visited a nearby cherry farm, helped with the harvest, purchased cherries produced by the farm, and donated them to a local nursing home. (Right) Six members of the Wuhan branch’s volunteer group visited a childcare facility and presented daily necessities and study materials to the children.

▲ (Left) POSCO-CORE’s volunteer group visited the Yanzi Lake’s Ecological Park near the company and carried out environmental cleanup activities. (Right) Forty-five members of PT. BIA’s volunteer group collected trash around the residences of Papua Palm Farm employees and maintained drainage channels.

▲ (Left) Eleven members of the Labor-Management Council-PT. BIA corporation’s volunteer group donated children’s art supplies to a kindergarten near the company. (Right) Five members of PT. KPE’s volunteer group delivered donations needed to cook lunch boxes to Sewan Village in Indonesia and then participated in cooking.

▲(Left) Twelve members of the Indonesia E&P Corporation’s volunteer group visited a major park in Jakarta and carried out environmental cleanup activities, collecting various types of trash. (Right) Twenty members of the MPCC volunteer group of the Myanmar PRC Corporation and hotel corporation donated 35 sacks of rice and towels for two months to Agape Orphanage Center and carried out residential environment improvement activities by replacing old roofs.

▲(Left) One hundred and twenty-nine members of the Gas Field Operations Office’s volunteer group visited the Yangon Education Center for the Blind and donated braille printing paper, shampoo, toothpaste, and various snacks. (Right) Thirteen members of the Singapore Trading Corporation’s volunteer group carried out volunteer work at the Lions Befrienders Senior Welfare Center by packing and donating goodie bags containing daily necessities such as ramen, canned food, biscuits, and toiletries.

▲(Left) Ten members of the Indian Motor Core corporation’s volunteer group provided snacks and school supplies to boarding schools for children from single-parent and low-income families. Twelve members of the Manila branch’s volunteer group carried out environmental cleanup activities at Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach. (Right) Seven members of the Sydney branch’s volunteer group participated in activities to remove parasitic trees and preserve native trees to protect the forest at the Field of Mars Reserve in Sydney.

Although the regions, environments, and languages ​​are different,
the hearts of POSCO Group executives and employees have become one through ‘sharing.’
POSCO Group’s volunteer activities for coexistence with the local community will continue in the future.
We ask for your interest and support!

▲ Aerial view of WEST GATE TUNNEL, Melbourne, Australia. Nine bridges that connect each section of the city will be newly constructed.(Image source: WEST GATE TUNNEL website)

That’s why the WEST GATE TUNNEL project started. Previously, for a single day, 200,000 cars had to rely solely on the WEST GATE Bridge to enter the city center from Melbourne’s harbor. The new project is a large-scale infrastructure project that builds nine new bridges and one twin tunnel to solve this problem. It runs about 5 km from Melbourne to Docklands, with construction in progress beginning in 2018 and estimated to be completed by 2022.

Not many people would know that the company behind connecting the bridges of Australia is a Korean company from more than 8,000km away.

l Melbourne’s Bridge Created With Korean Steel!

POSCO is one of the top three domestic companies in annual sales (FY2018). It is not only a Top Player in the domestic market but also a Global Player that exports about 45% of its total sales. POSCO provides all the steel plates for the nine bridges of the WEST GATE TUNNEL project. Of course, winning this project demanded intense work from POSCO’s marketing, production, quality, and research institutes.

First of all, POSCO presented an idea of applying steel products with higher quality and lower cost than the previously requested steel specifications the client. At the same time, POSCO took the lead in bidding with high specs steel that can’t be easily produced by competitors.

POSCO overseas subsidiaries also joined in. POSCO-China took a three to four-hour trip every week to persuade Zhenhua Port Machinery Company Limited (ZPMC). ZPMC is the bridge construction company for this project. To reduce the cost of loading and unloading, POSCO-China suggested utilizing ZPSS’s Zhangjiagang Pier. ZPSS is POSCO’s stainless steel manufacturing subsidiary in China.

At the same time, Pohang Works entered into a “joint operation” to get the ACRS review done within a short time. On the day of the on-site evaluation, all relevant departments cooperated with a 24-hour response system.

Eventually, POSCO was chosen as the supplier of the entire steel plates for the bridges of the WEST GATE TUNNEL project. Steel supply began in July last year and ends in May this year. The WEST GATE TUNNEL project will be a solution to alleviate the troublesome traffic congestions in downtown Melbourne. In addition, almost nine hectares of new open space will be created, with over 14 km of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths. This project is aiming to improve the quality of life for Melbourne citizens — it isn’t just a tunnel and bridge construction project.

l The Longest Suspension Bridge in the World — ‘ALL POSCO STEEL’

POSCO is also a part of the suspension bridges that cuts through straits. Even on the current longest suspension bridge in the world.

The Çanakkale 1915 Bridge is being built in the city of Çanakkale, northwestern Turkey. It is expected to become the longest suspension bridge in the world with a total length of 3,563m and main span distance of 2,023m. In the past, people had to take a boat that came every 30 minutes or so to cross the strait. However, with the bridge completed, it is expected to be a 10-minute drive to reach the other side.

The construction will be finalized by 2023 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey — However, the Turkish Parliament Chairman said it could be completed in 2022, one year ahead of the original plan! The scale for the construction is immense for a single project with a budget of 3 billion dollars, and 128,000 tonnes of steel products. It’s no wonder that leading companies around the globe worked hard to win the contract.

▲ Aerial view of the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge, Turkey. The red tower symbolizes the Turkish flag color. The height of the tower reaches 318m. (Image source: KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, January 2020)

POSCO was the winner of the intense competition. POSCO succeeded in winning all orders for steel plates and wire rods for the bridge. POSCO’s marketing representative attributed the success to three factors — premium steel supply, solutions to better process steel, and service to ensure perfect quality from production to transportation and storage.

Generally, for a bridge construction project, the construction company, manufacturer, and the steel supplier are determined after the design is completed — like the Australian WEST GATE TUNNEL project mentioned above. However, the case was different for the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge. It was a “Design-Build*” project, meaning that the design and construction were carried out simultaneously. In other words, this project needed a solution for the steel application from the initial design stage. The competition wasn’t about just the price, and non-price competitiveness was the secret. This was, of course, one of POSCO’s strengths.
*A business model in which the architect-contractor cooperates from the design stage before the design is completed. This is different from the general method where construction is progressed after the design is completed.

POSCO actively held solution briefing sessions for local contractors. The key to winning the project was to quickly dig in from the design stage, which was crucial in a “Design-Build” project. POSCO promised the production of wide-ranging materials to minimize local processing costs, welding solutions for steel plates over 100mm thick, and steel storage and inventory management services utilizing POSCO-Turkey Nilufer Processing Center (POSCO-TNPC), an automotive steel processing center in Turkey. Initially, POSCO received an order of 35,000 tons of steel plates for the bridge towers. This later on advanced to a contract of 52,000 tons of steel plates for the decks and 41,000 tons of wire rods — resulting in a build of an ‘All POSCO STEEL’ bridge with a total 128,000 tons of steel.

POSCO’s steel supply for the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge is now nearing its end. It will be finished by April this year. Since its start in 2018, the journey for the project lasted for nearly three years — including the preparation period. However, this is not the end since POSCO’s after-sales service will continue even after the steel supply is complete.

POSCO’s Sang-Il Lee of the Construction Steel Materials Marketing Office, who participated in this project said, “This was a large project that I would never have been able to handle alone. We could win this contract thanks to the many employees who joined and came together. I’m glad to see that POSCO enhanced its status as a global player with this project. I would love to visit and see with my eyes once the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge is complete.”

Bridges could be considered one of the pinnacles of modern civilization. Looking at a far stretched bridge might make one marvel, “Wow, how did people build that? Human technology is amazing.” The ‘people’ who make this amazing structure isn’t far away. Even today, the bridges connecting the world are supported by POSCO’s steel.

Thanksgiving offers one of the best culinary experiences of all US holidays (Image source: Ambit Energy)

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, urban families are opting for simpler approaches to preparing Thanksgiving dinner – without compromising the gastronomic experience.

Thanks to stainless steel, preparing a proper Thanksgiving feast is easier than it seems. Stainless steel kitchen tools that are specifically designed for the holiday, or the “Thanksgiving gadgets”, can turn Thanksgiving cooking into a joy, not a chore. It’s no wonder the famed cooking show, America’s Test Kitchen, even did a segment on stainless steel utensils.

In celebration of one of the biggest holidays of the year, POSCO Newsroom shares a few fun and painless Thanksgiving recipes and stainless steel utensils, with which even a novice cook can create a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner.

Juicy Turkey Roast, Just a Roaster Away

Stainless steel turkey roaster. (Source: SAVEUR)

First, for the star of Thanksgiving dinner, a juicy turkey: preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. After drying the turkey with a paper towel, rub mixture into the cavity. Stuff it with chopped celery, orange, onion, and carrot. Then, place the turkey in the “roaster,” a roasting pan-and-rack combo made of stainless steel.

A roaster is a handy tool not only for Thanksgiving but for any other occasion at home, whether it’s a family gathering or a house party. Inside the oven, the pan maintains the shape of the turkey while the rack drains excess oil. The most impressive feature of the roaster is, how evenly it distributes the heat inside the turkey.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, the perfect turkey that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside is just a roaster away.

Lifting  Turkey? No Muss, No Fuss

Stainless steel turkey lifter (Source: The Green Head)

Anyone who has ever tried to lift a full-size turkey would know how messy it can get. It is no easy task, especially when you are also trying not to burn your hands.

It requires advanced skills, but those who have yet to master the art of clean (and burn-free) turkey-lifting, need not worry.

Meet U-shaped lifter, a magical tool that will help you get the job done. The stainless steel construction makes it sturdy and it also comes with a snug handle that absorbs tension on the hand. The U-shaped spike maintains the shape of the turkey, holding it firmly from inside the cavity, and the turkey can be transferred from the pan to a plate in one swift motion.

Voila! The juicy Thanksgiving turkey is now on the table. Hello U-lifter, goodbye messy kitchen.

Steel Easier Mashed Potatoes

Steel potato masher (Source: Pinterest )

While making mashed potatoes is not rocket science, it’s not a piece of cake either. It can be made easy, however, with a stainless steel masher.

For creamy mashed potatoes: first, bring salt water to a boil, then add the desired amount of potatoes. Cook until soft. Drain the water and mix in warm milk and butter. This is where the steel masher really shines – use the masher to mash all the ingredients until the mixture gets that smooth and creamy texture.

Some of the best potato mashers loved in the kitchen are made of stainless steel. It’s built for durability and its handle is made to retain its shape after many years of use. The small inner holes and larger outer holes are intentional for quick mashing, so as not to leave any lumps.

Serving Gravy the Right Way

Thermal carafe keeps the gravy warm (Source: Unsplash.com)

For savory gravy: first, fill the saucepan with water. Add onion and turkey giblets, then bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer gently until slightly thickened. Add chicken broth and herbs, letting it simmer for two hours. Drain the soup, then add salt and pepper to taste.

Though not the star of the show on Thanksgiving Day, a Thanksgiving table is not complete without gravy. It adds flavor to otherwise bland turkey and mashed potatoes. When served in just any container, however, it can get cold very quickly.

That’s where the thermal carafe made of none other than stainless steel – comes in. While a gravy boat would be a more common choice, it is no match for stainless steel carafe when it comes to keeping the gravy warm. The stainless steel carafe insulates the heat, maintaining the temperature, and the gravy will never lose its smooth texture when kept inside the carafe.

Stainless steel, which helps retain the original taste of food, has become a kitchen essential for everyday cooking and not just for Thanksgiving. Just think how the food we consume get prepared, served and stored every day.
Thanks to its durability, stainless steel is likely to stay in our kitchens as a faithful cooking assistant for a very long while. Extra tip: All the utensils mentioned above are dishwasher safe.

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.

Daniel Libeskind says, “[I]n buildings that move us, there’s an element of care. It’s not a question of whether a building makes us feel good or bad. It’s about being moved. It’s something that goes very deep.”

Take a look at these three unique buildings that used steel in creative ways. Most architects and engineers work to hide the steel underneath the walls and floors, but these three architecture firms brought the steel to the exterior – and to dramatic effect. Even if you have never seen or been in these buildings, we can all imagine what it would be like. Try to focus on the emotions you may feel when you read about the buildings and tell us about it in the comments below.

Zaha Hadid’s Investcorp Building, Oxford University

The Investcorp Building, located in Oxford University’s St. Antony’s College, is part of the school’s Middle East Center. Named after the investment firm that donated £11 million to have it built, the building includes a library, classrooms, and offices. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, considered to be one of the most famous avant-garde contemporary architects of our time, the project has evoked a multitude of emotions from those on campus.

Zaha Hadid’s Investcorp Building at Oxford University stands out among the Victorian buildings surrounding it. (Photo courtesy of Forgemind ArchiMedia)

Conspicuously different from the other Victorian buildings found on Oxford’s campus, the Investcorp Building has brought out supporters and detractors. Some said that it “Looks like a beached whale,” or “No, a crashed airplane.” While some of Hadid’s supporters, like the center’s director Eugene Rogan said, “Every line meant something. It bends the brain. I’m in love with this building and I can’t hide it… there’s something Daliesque about it.” The Independent even went so far as to say that it was “undoubtedly Hadid’s most intriguing small building.”

The glass walls underneath the Investcorp Buildings allow students to see the grounds of Oxford University campus. (Photo courtesy of Forgemind ArchiMedia)

Many will argue that the building does not blend in well with its surroundings on Oxford’s campus, but it is also hard to deny the precision and expertise that went into the design. Love it or hate it, Hadid’s Investcorp Building is one that will fuel debate for decades to come.

Turkey’s Raif Dinçkök Yalova Cultural Center

The modern Raif Dinçkök Yalova Cultural Center was designed by Istanbul’s Emre Arolat Architects. It is a mini-city in a box with different multi-purpose facilities inside that are connected by a vast maze of ramps and walkways.

Its unique exterior is made of corten steel, short for “corrosion resistance” and “tensile strength,” a type of weathering steel that has no need for painting. Over time it develops a rust-like appearance while maintaining its resistance to atmospheric corrosion.

Turkey’s Raif Dinçkök Yalova Cultural Center uses weathering steel to striking effect. (Photo courtesy of ArchDaily)

The intentionally rusted facade offers a blank canvas for the city and serves to heighten expectations of what might be inside.

Arch Daily says, “The surface, which is also suitable for recycling, acts as a natural palette, containing the changes it will go through, like the color and tone changes caused by oxidation. This movement will make the relationship between the city and the building more interactive.”

Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles

Frank Gehry’s stainless steel Walt Disney Concert Hall remains one of the famous architect’s most well-known works – as well as one of the most famous buildings in LA. Architectural Digest called Gehry the “most important architect of our age,” and the LA Times said that “Disney Hall accomplishes all the things Gehry has become famous for and all the things he was supposed to be incapable of doing.” The stainless steel jutting out into the landscape is both striking but soft.

“Ten years after its debut, it remains the city’s greatest room.” -Christopher Hawthorne, LA Times

Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Music Hall has become one of LA’s most well-known landmarks. (Photo courtesy of Milo & Silvia in the world)

Some patrons have argued that entry into the hall is rather abrupt as one must move from the sidewalk directly into the lobby, with little fanfare. Then, having entered the hall, even the lobby is considered “narrow and asymmetrical.” But Gehry seemingly did this on purpose “in an effort to save the architectural and emotional payoff for the moment when you walk into the auditorium itself.” He realized that this building was to be a monument to the music and musicians that played there, and so he wanted the focus to be on that aspect – minimizing the rest for emotional effect.

What do you think of these buildings? Tell us about some other buildings that sparked an emotional response in you.

*Cover image: Walt Disney Music Hall, photo by Prayitno.

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Our first interviewee is Associate Mijung Kim from the Stainless Steel Marketing Dept. in the Stainless Automotive and Home Appliance Steel Sales Group. Let’s listen to Kim’s marketing story, including what she considers the most important in marketing as a person involved in the export of stainless steel!

Can you introduce yourself please?

Hello, I’m Mijung Kim, an associate at POSCO’s Stainless Steel Marketing Dept. since February 2012. I have been responsible for the export of stainless steel since I first started working for POSCO. From my two years in marketing, I was not only able to learn a lot about stainless steel but was also able to gain the ability to lead business with a client. I initially found it challenging to adjust to POSCO’s environment as I was unfamiliar with corporate life, professional vocabulary and methods of work but I was able to adapt quickly with the help of passionate leaders and friendly colleagues.

What does POSCO’s Stainless Steel Marketing Dept. do?

Stainless steel thermoses, cups and spoons are familiar steel products that can be seen in our daily lives. Stainless steel are high-value added products that have a well-polished surface and resistance to corrosion. However, stainless steel suffer from severe price fluctuations because the majority of their raw material is nickel. In addition, there is a large range of clients, which makes the marketing of stainless steel a more difficult task compared to the marketing of other products. Despite the difficulties, sales managers are constantly working to establish effective conclusions of contracts and manage meticulous client relationship by developing smooth communication with purchasing and technical managers from client companies.

Currently, the Stainless Steel Marketing Dept. exports products made at POSCO’s overseas producer corporations and manufacturing centers in countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey and Italy. Considering the global marketing environments, POSCO keeps track of the fluctuations in the prices of raw materials, the characteristics of steel that clients demand as well as the business conditions of producer corporations to ultimately apply acquired knowledge in POSCO’s sales planning.

What do you consider to be the most important in POSCO’s marketing?

I believe that communication is the key to everything. During my time at POSCO, I realized the importance of communication as I worked with clients and producer corporations from Taiwan and South-East Asia. Once, I faced difficulties in fulfilling a contract due to extreme price fluctuations of raw materials during the contract period. Another time, I had to solve problems regarding a client claim, together with technical and purchasing managers. While overcoming such difficulties, I learned that sales managers should always listen carefully to and actively communicate with clients as the faintest client voice could suddenly influence contract and deals. I came to believe that good communication at times of difficulties can in fact draw more clients, and ultimately increase the sales of products.

POSCO’s Stainless Steel Marketing Goes Global

POSCO’s stainless steel are exported worldwide to countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey and Italy after being made in various producer corporations and manufacturing. Sales managers advertise POSCO’s products by visiting clients from diverse nationalities in real life. Every time I see some of the client companies’ poor production situations, I become even more determined to provide better stainless steel and services to clients.

Can you catch a glimpse of the bright future of POSCO’s stainless steel marketing from all the POSCO-pride and preemptive marketing strategies? We hope you felt the passion and hard work coming from Mijung, who is only on her second year in the marketing industry. At the beginning of August 2013, POSCO restructured its Stainless Steel Marketing Dept. to be industry-based in order to strengthen customer service. In the future, POSCO Stainless Steel Marketing will continue to provide technology, product and service tailored to industry demands, so stay tuned!

POSCO, on August 31st at the ‘Istanbul-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, held in Istanbul, Turkey, opened their POSCO booth to proactively promote the company to expo attendees. As of September 9th, 24,000 attendees visited the POSCO booth and experienced the status of Korea’s representative steel company.

On August 31st, ten hours prior to the opening of the expo, the POSCO booth, which was located at the Beyazit Meydani (square), was opened with the attendance of 30 personnel including Executive Director Lee Bokseong and POSCO ASSAN TST President Kwon Jongwon, as well as POSCO officers.

Executive Director Lee Bokseong, in his congratulatory speech, said, “We expect that this event will promote our local subsidiaries and companies including POSCO ASSAN TST•POSCO TNPC, which are the bases to enter the Europe steel market.”

The POSCO booth titled ‘POSCO Steel Gallery’ is designed as a gallery type of exhibition. The POSCO booth is the only corporate booth located at Beyazit Meydani and will be open until September 22nd, for 23 days.

The booth is divided into the ‘Gallery Zone’ and ‘Culture Zone,’ where the ‘Gallery Zone’ features the steel civilization which started in ancient Turkey as well as the introduction of 《Jikji Simche Yojeol (Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings)》 which is the world’s first book printed from metal blocks, up to POSCO’s steel products and the global chain including affiliates and local subsidiaries.

Further, to promote the local subsidiary in Turkey, social contribution activities of each production base and POSCO ASSAN TST are introduced, as well as an exhibition of an automobile steel plate sample featuring the technology and product of POSCO TNPC.

In the ‘Culture Zone,’ videos of various forms of steel in our everyday lives are played on 4 touch screens, and the beautiful sound made by steel instruments show the happiness of mankind through steel.

Various promotional activities are also displayed outside of the POSCO booth, and the building’s exterior introduces the many businesses that the POSCO Family is globally involved in through a graphic panel, and the large ride facilities that connect to the exterior of the booth and the rooftop terrace with artificial grass on the second floor provide a resting area for attendees.

Once the POSCO booth closes, POSCO plans to move the exhibition articles to POSCO ASSAN TST and POSCO TNPC to build a PR center at each subsidiary.

On August 15, POSCO held a completion ceremony for a cold-rolled stainless steel plant called “POSCO Assan TST” in Izmit, Turkey. POSCO Assan TST, which will become the first stainless steel plant in the country, has an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons. With the completion, POSCO has now secured a production base at the west front of ‘U-Belt,’ a part of POSCO’s global UI development strategy across newly rising countries in Asia.

Turkey is a strategic point for entering the markets of Europe, Middle East, Russia, North Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Recently, the nation has also been going through a rapid industrial drive from light industry to heavy industry basis. Renault, Fiat, Ford, Nissan, Honda and other major car manufacturers are operating businesses in Turkey and the local market itself is often referred as one of Europe’s top three home appliance consumer markets along with Germany and Italy. The demands for high quality cold-rolled stainless products are high due to these factors in Turkey.

POSCO Assan TST holds a significant meaning because, despite of such soaring demands for stainless products, Turkey did not have any stainless plant within the country and experts had previously suggested that a supply shortage reaching 1 million tons could occur by 2015. With the completion, POSCO will be able to take the advantageous position first in the Turkish market, and also react swiftly for the demands from the neighboring areas. Once the ITPC, an Italian stainless processing center starts operating next month, the two facilities will work together to create a sales synergy in the near future.

About 300 guests attended the ceremony to celebrate the completion of POSCO Assan TST, including CEO and Chairman of POSCO Chung Joon-yang, Turkey’s Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Nihat Ergun, Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan and other VIPs from the Turkish government and POSCO’s partners. During his remarks, Chairman Chung said, “POSCO Assan TST is the essence of the long relationship between Turkey and Korea. I hope POSCO continues to be loved by Turkey and to grow in line with the local market for mutual prosperity.” While speaking with the Turkish government ministers, the Chairman also requested continuous supports for the cold-rolled stainless plant in Turkey, and in response, Minister Ergun and Minister Caglayan said the government will provide its full support for the plant.

POSCO Assan TST in Turkey is expected to be the key manufacturing plant for global production and sales network across China, Southeast Asia and Turkey, making POSCO be the leading stainless maker in the world.