POSCO Energy Advances Restoration Project for Wildfire-Affected Areas in Samcheok, Gangwon Province

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] POSCO Energy is sharing eco-friendly values and communicating with the local community through a forest restoration project in the Samcheok area of Gangwon Province, where wildfires occurred last year.

On the 9th, POSCO Energy held an 'Eco Dream' forest planting event in Hamaeup-ri, Nogok-myeon, Samcheok City, Gangwon Province, attended by Jeong Gi-seop, President of POSCO Energy, Ok In-hwan, CEO of Samcheok Blue Power (formerly POSPOWER), a subsidiary, and officials from the Korea Forest Service, planting 5,000 trees.

Eco Dream is one of POSCO Energy's social contribution projects, with a double meaning of reviving the Echo through community forest restoration and dreaming of Eco (environmental friendliness).

Gangwon Province lost about 5.3 million pyeong (approximately 17.5 million square meters) of forest due to last year's wildfires, equivalent to 2,460 soccer fields or six times the size of Yeouido, resulting in about 1,200 disaster victims. Samcheok City also lost about 800,000 pyeong (approximately 2.64 million square meters) of forest, equivalent to 351 soccer fields, due to the wildfires.

In response, POSCO Energy decided to restore the forest damaged by the wildfires in cooperation with its subsidiary Samcheok Blue Power, which is building a power plant in Samcheok. In particular, by planting acacia and other bee-friendly species that can generate income, it is expected to contribute to increasing the income of local residents.

Additionally, POSCO Gangpan, a POSCO Group company, participated in the forest restoration project by creating and donating a commemorative plaque made of ‘PosART,’ a steel sheet applying high-resolution inkjet printing technology.

POSCO Energy plans to restore 14% of the wildfire-damaged area in Samcheok by promoting the forest restoration project over the long term for more than 10 years, starting with planting 5,000 trees this year.

Jeong Gi-seop, President of POSCO Energy, said, "The forest restoration project is part of environmental conservation activities in cooperation with the local community," adding, "POSCO Energy will continue to communicate with the local community and actively engage in solving social issues such as restoring wildfire-damaged areas and creating local jobs as a global model citizen."

Meanwhile, POSCO Energy had planned this forest restoration as an Arbor Day event with the participation of executives and employees, but due to social distancing measures caused by COVID-19, it was scaled down to a plaque ceremony with minimal attendees.