POSCO 1% Nanum Foundation Supports Disabled People’s “Happy Independence”

Customized Assistive Device Support 'Huimangnalgae' Delivery Ceremony
Welfare Facility Improvement 'Huimanggonggan' Plaque Ceremony Event
Total of 48 Facilities Improved through 'Huimanggonggan' Project

POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation held a completion plaque ceremony on the 20th for the remodeling of the Pohang Caritas Protection Workshop facility as part of the 'Hope Space' project and took a commemorative photo. Photo by POSCO

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyun] The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation has launched activities to support customized assistive devices and improve welfare facilities to help people with disabilities achieve independence.

On the 21st, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation announced that, as part of the Hope Wings project, it delivered customized assistive devices to 120 people with disabilities at the Pohang Northern Disabled Welfare Center in Gyeongbuk the previous day. On the same day, a completion plaque ceremony was held for the remodeling of the Pohang Caritas Protected Workshop and the Dandelion Community welfare facility, which are the results of the Hope Space project.

The Hope Wings project supports customized assistive devices for people with disabilities living in the Pohang and Gwangyang areas. The Hope Space project remodels small-scale welfare facilities for people with disabilities that have poor environments and eliminates fire hazards. Since 2019, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation has been focusing on these two projects to improve the welfare of people with disabilities.

At the Hope Wings event, Jin Gibeom, a representative badminton player for people with disabilities in Gyeongbuk, said, “Receiving a sports wheelchair for badminton players has allowed me to focus more on practice,” adding, “I want to repay this by achieving good results at the National Sports Festival.”

Cheon Seonghyun, head of POSCO’s Corporate Citizenship Office, said, “Spatial welfare is a precious gift that enables people with disabilities to continue living independently,” and added, “We will continue to support more people with disabilities to live happy and independent lives by improving the environments of small-scale welfare institutions for people with disabilities.”

On the 20th, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation delivered customized assistive devices tailored to different types of disabilities at the Pohang Northern Welfare Center for the Disabled in Gyeongbuk as part of the 'Hope Wings' project and took commemorative photos. Photo by POSCO

Through the Hope Wings project, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation has so far provided assistive devices tailored to disability types, such as prosthetic legs, wheelchairs, eye mice, and sports equipment, to 455 people with disabilities.

In particular, the athletics team of Myeongdo School, which has achieved good results in national competitions, received stair-type exercise equipment suitable for athletes, and students with visual impairments were given Braille assistive devices that aid language acquisition, providing personalized assistive devices for each individual.

Through the Hope Space project, remodeling has been completed for a total of 48 facilities, benefiting about 2,500 users. This year, 15 locations in the Pohang and Gwangyang areas were selected to provide customized spatial welfare, such as leveling kitchen sink heights for wheelchair users and reinforcing fire-resistant materials in high fire-risk areas.

Meanwhile, starting this year, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation has established virtual reality (VR) vocational training centers in Pohang and Gwangyang to strengthen the employment capabilities of people with developmental disabilities, and also supports an e-sports center for people with disabilities, focusing on enhancing their independence.

Established in 2013, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation operates through donations of 1% of the salaries of POSCO Group and partner company employees, with the company matching the donations. In addition to disability support projects such as Hope Wings and Hope Space, it carries out various sharing activities supporting future generations, multicultural families, and culture and arts.

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