Gwangyang Steelworks Conducts Close-Knit Contribution Activities in Gwangyang Area

Employees Directly Participate in Identifying and Solving Community Issues

POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Lee Jin-su) announced that it conducted environmental improvement and facility repair activities throughout major villages in Gwangyang City in connection with the ‘Change My Town’ program, and carried out community sharing activities.

POSCO’s ‘Change My Town’ program is a donor-driven social contribution project where employees directly donate funds for contribution activities, identify community issues, and propose and implement ideas to solve them. It is evaluated as a community-based program that proactively identifies and improves practical problems in the local community, resulting in a more noticeable improvement in residents’ quality of life.

Employees of the Heavy Plate Division at Gwangyang Steelworks carried out street repairs and environmental cleanup activities in Gwandong Village, Gwangyang-eup.
Photo by Gwangyang Steelworks

On the 10th and 11th, over two days, Gwangyang Steelworks carried out ‘Change My Town’ activities where key volunteer groups such as the Green Talent Volunteer Group and the Nanum-i Couple Volunteer Group, along with employees from operational departments like the Heavy Plate Division and Cold Rolling Division, identified environmental factors needing improvement in each village and directly addressed them.

The Green Talent Volunteer Group, which conducts landscaping management activities in local green parks, listened to local residents’ opinions on the need to improve the aging facilities of the ‘Nokyunghoe (Association for Respecting the Elderly)’ Senior Welfare Center located in Jinwol-myeon, Gwangyang City, on the 10th, and accordingly carried out yard garden tree management and repairs of old facilities.

The Green Talent Volunteer Group utilized their landscaping skills honed over time to beautifully maintain the yard around the welfare center, managing garden trees and performing waterproofing work to resolve indoor rainwater leakage issues.

In particular, in collaboration with operational departments handling electrical equipment such as the EIC Technology Department, employees from these departments also participated, repairing aging electrical facilities like electrical outlets, demonstrating the skillful operation of applying operational staff’s expertise to contribution activities.

A resident of Jinwol-myeon said, “The welfare center has become very comfortable. We will be able to spend enjoyable time with neighbors in a more convenient and clean environment,” and expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you to POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks for providing a warm hand to our previously neglected village.”

Additionally, the ‘Nanum-i Couple Volunteer Group,’ composed of POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks employees and their spouses, worked hard at the Hwangbang Village Senior Center in Golyak-dong, Gwangyang City, carrying out environmental improvement activities such as organizing and cleaning, installing storage cabinets for the elderly visiting the center, and volunteering to serve meals.

At the same time, employees from the Heavy Plate Division of Gwangyang Steelworks spent time repairing roads around the village hall and conducting environmental cleanup activities in Gwandong Village, Gwangyang-eup, creating a safer village environment.

Contribution activities targeting local children were also carried out simultaneously. The Gwangyang Steelworks Football Association, mainly composed of football enthusiasts from the steelworks, collaborated with a local children’s center to teach children basic football skills such as shooting, dribbling, and passing, and organized futsal matches by forming teams.

By conducting volunteer activities enjoyed together with the beneficiary children, it was reported that not only children’s health was promoted but also their emotional well-being was improved.

On the 11th, employees from the Cold Rolling Division of Gwangyang Steelworks visited their sister village, Gidong Village in Golyak-dong, Gwangyang City, replacing window screens and installing nameplates on houses, contributing to providing residents with a more comfortable living environment.

During the ‘Global Model Citizen Week,’ as part of the ‘Change My Town’ activities, various talent volunteer groups and operational department employees will participate in facility repair activities such as landscaping management, environmental cleanup, streetlight and electrical equipment maintenance, and public facility interior work in various areas of Gwangyang including Geumho-dong senior facilities, Hagwang Village in Gwangyeong-dong, Yongjang Village in Seonghwang-dong, Dochon Village in Taein-dong, and Hapo Village in Hwanggil-dong.

In addition, diverse volunteer activities involving citizens will be carried out, including care activities for people with disabilities, informatization education for people with disabilities, and plogging (environmental cleanup by picking up trash while jogging) with children.

Meanwhile, from the 9th to the 16th, Gwangyang Steelworks is conducting ‘Global Model Citizen Week,’ a special volunteer week involving all POSCO group company employees, planning various social contribution activities including joint volunteer work with 35 talent volunteer groups and employees participating simultaneously, as well as events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the founding of the POSCO Volunteer Corps.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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