POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation Transforms Aging Facilities into 'Comfortable Spaces'

Plaque Ceremony for 'Hope Space' at Gwangyang Village Hall
Customized Remodeling Including Public Facility Expansion
Project Scope Expanded... 39 Sites Completed This Year

POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the Foundation) held a plaque ceremony for the ‘Hope Space’ in Gwangyang on the 7th.

‘Hope Space’ is one of the Foundation’s flagship projects launched in 2019, aimed at improving facilities for people with disabilities and the home environments of children with disabilities to provide safe and comfortable spaces.

The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation held a 'Hope Space' plaque ceremony in Gwangyang on the 7th. Photo by Gwangyang Steelworks

Starting this year, the Foundation expanded the scope of the project to include not only facilities related to people with disabilities but also aging public facilities such as village halls in the Gwangyang and Pohang areas.

In April, the Foundation received a total of 53 applications for the Hope Space project through Gwangyang and Pohang city halls and administrative welfare centers. On-site inspections were conducted based on urgency and safety criteria for the submitted locations, and in July, after a review with the Foundation’s project selection committee and city hall officials, 29 facilities for people with disabilities and homes, and 10 public facilities were finally selected as support targets.

The Foundation completed improvement work by identifying necessary elements for each location, such as space expansion, exterior wall replacement, installation of ramps and handrails, and carrying out customized remodeling for the 39 sites selected this year.

The plaque ceremony was held at the Sinwon Village Hall in Daap-myeon, Gwangyang, which was remodeled after being selected for the ‘Hope Space’ project. The event was attended by Kim Ki-hong, Deputy Mayor of Gwangyang, Choi Young, Head of POSCO Sustainability Management Office, the Foundation’s project selection committee members, the head of Daap-myeon, and the village chief of Sinwon Village.

Sinwon Village Hall is used by about 30 elderly residents from four villages: Singi, Wondong, Oeap, and Naeap. Along with space expansion, heating facilities, wallpapering, and flooring were installed. The exterior walls of the expanded space were made with POSCO color steel plates to ensure excellent insulation and durability for the safe activities of the elderly.

Additionally, benches upcycled from the work uniforms of POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks employees were produced and donated to provide a comfortable resting place for elderly residents with mobility difficulties, adding meaning to the community sharing activities.

Jang Young-saeng, the village chief of Sinwon Village, said, "We were worried because the living space for the elderly was small, but the building expansion has relieved our concerns. We sincerely thank POSCO for stepping forward to help."

Choi Young, Head of POSCO Sustainability Management Office, who attended the plaque ceremony, said, "We expect that the Hope Space project will help improve the quality of life for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities by providing convenience in their daily lives."

Meanwhile, the Foundation has supported remodeling for 86 facilities for people with disabilities and low-income families with children and youth with disabilities up to last year, and plans to continue identifying and supporting places in need of help throughout vulnerable groups and local communities.

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