POSCO Establishes Future Technology Research Institute Directly Under CEO... Recruiting External Experts

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] POSCO is establishing a Future Technology Research Institute directly under the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This will consolidate the group’s new growth area technology research organizations, including artificial intelligence (AI), secondary battery materials, hydrogen, and low carbon. The company has carried out an organizational restructuring focused on strengthening ESG (environment, social, governance) management by newly creating a Health Planning Office and operating a dedicated organization for carbon neutrality promotion.

According to industry sources on the 23rd, POSCO plans to implement this company-wide organizational restructuring starting January 3 next year and is currently assigning tasks accordingly.

The most notable change is the establishment of the Future Technology Research Institute. Under the institute, there is a task force (TF) team for the institute’s establishment as well as AI, secondary battery materials, hydrogen, and low carbon research centers. This organization will be responsible for securing core technologies and planning research and development (R&D) in areas POSCO regards as future new growth engines, such as AI, secondary battery materials, and hydrogen. The institute will also serve as a channel for recruiting external experts and outstanding talent, and a large-scale recruitment has been conducted alongside its launch.

Dr. Yoon Changwon from KIST was appointed as head of the Hydrogen and Low Carbon Research Center, and Dr. Yoon Joo-woong, a CCUS expert from the U.S. company KBR, was recruited as a research fellow, showing efforts to break away from pure-bloodism. Kim Jumin was appointed as head of the AI Research Center, and Kim Pilho as director of the AI Research Center.

Another key theme of this POSCO organizational restructuring is ESG. The Steel Business Division, where President Kim Hakdong was promoted to Vice Chairman, has been given the new task of establishing carbon neutrality strategies and analyzing performance. A Carbon Neutral Strategy Group was created under the Steel Planning Office. It is also reported that an advisory group will be operated to manage the execution of the 2050 Carbon Neutral Roadmap.

The Electric Furnace Business Promotion TF team, directly under the Steel Production Technology Headquarters, has also been assigned a significant role. It must conduct technical research for the establishment of a second electric furnace, a core project for carbon reduction, and secure advanced steel manufacturing technology. The TF’s operation period is currently set until the end of the year after next but may be extended. The Process Engineering Research Institute has been renamed the Low Carbon Process Research Institute.

A Health Planning Office was newly established to enhance the company-wide health management expertise and build a health promotion system. In addition to existing operational departments, safety management organizations such as the Technology Research Institute and Investment Engineering Office have also been expanded and reorganized.

In the year-end personnel reshuffle, POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jungwoo continued his emphasis on steel mill field operations. Considering the importance of on-site production and safety, about 40% of all promotions to senior manager level were from field personnel, and the number of promotions for steel mill field managers and above increased by more than 10% compared to the previous year. Executive Director Kwon Younggyun from the Legal Office was promoted as a 40-something executive, and Kang Juseong, CEO of POSCO partner company Taeun Co., Ltd. and a health management expert, was appointed as head of the Health Planning Office, further strengthening merit-based personnel management.

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