POSCO Volunteer Group Eliminating Marine Litter Receives Presidential Citation by Public Recommendation

Posco Clean Ocean Volunteer Group Participating in Underwater Cleanup Volunteer Activity

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Pohang Clean Ocean Volunteer Group, composed of POSCO employees, received the Presidential Citation on the 3rd. According to the company, this volunteer group was recognized for conducting weekly marine cleanup activities in the Yeongilman sea area near the Pohang Steelworks and was awarded the Presidential Citation as part of the 10th National Recommendation Awards selected by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Not only do they collect coastal litter, but employees with scuba diving certifications personally enter the sea to retrieve underwater waste. Since 2013, they have also collected marine debris using a dedicated vessel, gathering over 1,000 tons in 11 years since their founding in 2009. They engage in volunteer activities that communicate with the local community, such as marine cleanup efforts addressing the phenomenon of "gae-nok-eum" (seaweed disappearance) in rocky coastal areas of Ulleungdo and Dokdo. They also collect marine plastic waste. The National Recommendation Awards are a system where citizens recommend candidates, and after government merit review, awards are given; this year, 755 people were recommended and 46 received awards.