POSCO 1% Nanum Foundation Supports National Veterans with Robotic Prosthetic Arms and Legs

On the 23rd, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation announced that it delivered advanced assistive devices to injured veterans and military and firefighting personnel.

This year, the foundation provided 50 disabled national veterans with robotic prosthetic arms and legs, multifunctional wheelchairs, and walking aids (C-Brace). The foundation explained, “We were the first private entity to purchase the RoFT (Robot Foot), a robotic prosthetic leg developed by the domestic company Hugodynamics, to support the distribution of domestically produced robotic prosthetics.”

At the delivery ceremony, Kim Young-min, an official from Ansan City Hall who was paralyzed in the lower body after a parachute failed to catch the wind during special forces airborne training and crashed to the ground, and Kim Kyu-bin, a firefighter from Uichang Fire Station in Changwon, Gyeongnam, who suffered a cervical fracture after being pinned by a tree while removing fallen roadside trees during Typhoon Hinnamnor last year, attended and received a walking aid and multifunctional wheelchair, respectively.

Official Kim Young-min said, “After wearing the walking aid, I was able to move my legs and access places that were previously restricted, such as stairs.” Firefighter Kim Kyu-bin said, “With the multifunctional wheelchair I received, I can stand and move at eye level with others, which has given me the courage to live a new life,” adding, “I want to work harder on rehabilitation and return to daily life.”

National Merit recipient Kim Young-min, an official at Ansan City Hall, is undergoing rehabilitation training while wearing a walking assist device (C-Brace).
[Photo by POSCO]

The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation signed an agreement with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in 2020, marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, to provide advanced assistive devices to disabled national veterans, and has supported 106 people with robotic prosthetic arms and legs and multifunctional wheelchairs up to last year.

Recipients of advanced assistive devices are identified jointly by the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Medical Command, and the National Fire Agency from among national veterans and active military and firefighting personnel. The final candidates are selected after medical suitability reviews and on-site interviews conducted by the Central Veterans Hospital under the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the assistive device suppliers.

Unlike conventional prosthetic legs, robotic prosthetic legs can automatically move the ankle according to the surrounding conditions when stepping, allowing for one-legged standing. They also move at a level similar to the human body, minimizing the impact on other skeletal parts. The robotic prosthetic arms feature independent movement of all five fingers, with the thumb rotating separately, providing agility and precision.

All assistive devices can be finely adjusted according to individual physical conditions. Disabled national veterans, device supplier experts, Central Veterans Hospital officials, and foundation staff gather to conduct tests and then produce unique advanced assistive devices tailored to each individual.

Yoon Jong-jin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said, “We thank the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation for supporting advanced assistive devices to national veterans who have devoted themselves to the nation and society.”

Yang Byung-ho, Head of Management Support at POSCO, emphasized, “Employees of POSCO Group and its partner companies share 1% of their income to annually gift robotic arms and legs to national veterans who have selflessly served the nation and society, delivering hope for a new life,” adding, “We hope the quality of life for disabled national veterans will be substantially improved.”

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