Steel Association Holds 'Day of Steel' Event

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The steel industry has pledged to stabilize the supply and demand of steel products, which have recently faced shortages, and to practice a culture of safety.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Iron & Steel Association held the "22nd Steel Day Commemoration Event" on the 9th at the POSCO Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Steel Day commemorates June 9, 1973, when the first molten iron was produced at POSCO Pohang Steelworks, Korea's first blast furnace, and related events have been held since 2000.

At the event, the steel industry pledged to actively expand production and prioritize domestic supply to quickly stabilize steel supply and demand. They also resolved to work to alleviate supply difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Furthermore, they committed to placing safety in industrial sites as the top management value and to actively striving for proactive preventive management and safety investment.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook said in his congratulatory speech, "The steel industry has maintained competitiveness despite difficult conditions such as protectionism over the past few years," and urged, "Please actively respond to concerns about steel supply and demand as the industry has pledged, so as to alleviate the anxiety of demand industries."

Choi Jeong-woo, chairman of POSCO and president of the Korea Iron & Steel Association, said, "We will strive to contribute to resolving material supply difficulties and creating an industrial ecosystem of co-prosperity," adding, "We will also work to make the steel industry a model of safe jobs by expanding investment and education for industrial accident prevention and smart safety management."

Chairman Choi added, "We will promote a successful transition to a green industry through low-carbon steel technology innovation, reducing our own carbon emissions, and expanding eco-friendly products and solutions," and requested, "The government should also pay attention to promoting large-scale national R&D projects centered on innovative technologies and building green energy supply infrastructure."

At the event, the government awarded 32 individuals who contributed to the development of the steel industry.

Park Sung-hee, CEO of KG Dongbu Steel, received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. CEO Park was recognized for promoting the domestic return of overseas subsidiaries and launching competitive products such as non-combustible color steel sheets and antibacterial galvanized steel sheets for the first time in Korea, strengthening export capabilities.

Kim Sang-gyun, Executive Director of POSCO, received the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit for launching the premium steel material integrated brand "InnoBuilt" and creating a win-win platform for small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to strengthening the steel ecosystem.

On the same day, Minister Moon and the Korea Iron & Steel Association leadership held a separate meeting to discuss domestic steel industry issues.

The attendees identified the early stabilization of domestic steel supply and demand, carbon neutrality promotion, and strengthening industrial accident prevention and safety management as the major challenges facing the steel industry after COVID-19.

They agreed that companies and the government should closely cooperate to resolve urgent issues such as supply stabilization and thoroughly prepare for carbon neutrality to enhance the competitiveness of the steel industry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.