Normal Operation Resumed After 135 Days of Flooding: 'Appreciation Ceremony' Held
Appreciation Plaques Presented to Pohang City, Marine Corps, Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters
Five Key Contributors Inducted into the Hall of Fame for Restoration Efforts
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] POSCO announced on the 12th that it held a commemorative event to reflect on the process of returning to normal operations after the flooding of the Pohang Steelworks caused by Typhoon Hin Nam No and to express gratitude to those who worked hard on the recovery.
The event held on the 10th was attended by about 100 people, including POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo, executives and employees, Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters Chief Lee Young-pal, and Bae Jong-min, Chairman of the Processing Center Presidents' Council and CEO of Moonbae Steel, among other officials from related organizations.
POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo said, "In the early stages of the flooding, there were some concerns about whether the steelworks would have to be rebuilt," adding, "The driving force behind POSCO's ability to create a miracle that will be remembered in the history of the global steel industry was the dedicated efforts of 1.4 million people and the world's best operational and maintenance technology accumulated over 50 years." He continued, "I commend the dedication of POSCO Group executives and employees who, without losing hope even in deep despair and without a single major accident, united to complete the normalization work."
Choi Jung-woo, Chairman of POSCO Group (second from right), and Kim Hak-dong, Vice Chairman of POSCO (first from left), are viewing the photo exhibition "Forgetting the Pain of 2022, Connecting the Future," which captures the restoration process of the Pohang Steelworks, along with officials from organizations recognized for their contributions to the Pohang Steelworks restoration, at the POSCO headquarters in Pohang on the 10th. Photo by POSCO
Chairman Choi expressed, "I extend my infinite gratitude to the citizens of Pohang who always supported and encouraged POSCO during the recovery period, and I sincerely thank the many people who generously provided bottled water, snacks, lunch boxes, bread, and other support at the recovery sites," emphasizing, "POSCO will not forget the precious help sent by the people and will take the lead in the development of the Korean economy."
Chairman Choi presented plaques of appreciation to Pohang City, the Marine Corps 1st Division, Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters, and the Processing Center Presidents' Council for their leading roles in supporting the steelworks recovery. Pohang City spared no effort in providing various equipment and policy support such as fire pumps and dust masks immediately after the typhoon damage occurred to help the local community, the steelworks, and the national industrial complex overcome the disaster together. The Marine Corps deployed about 4,000 personnel cumulatively to assist with soil removal and wastewater treatment at the steelworks, and supported the recovery work with about 700 pieces of equipment including decontamination vehicles, water trucks, and sanitation vehicles.
Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun said, "The Marine Corps 1st Division is a national strategic rapid response unit that rushes to the scene first when the nation is in danger and the people are in crisis," adding, "We will do our utmost together with loyal division soldiers to become a patriotic and loyal Marine Corps that responds swiftly to any military or non-military threats and repays the love of the people."
Since the 20th of last month, POSCO Pohang Steelworks, which resumed full normal operation, has lit up the communication board after about five months. [Photo by POSCO]
The Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters supported 826 firefighters, 424 fire trucks, and 848 pumps. In particular, the deployment of a large-capacity water cannon system greatly helped speed up the drainage work in the major flooded areas of the steelworks. The Processing Center Presidents' Council timely secured product storage space and actively responded to urgent customer demands, making a significant contribution to stabilizing the supply and demand of steel products in the domestic market.
On this day, POSCO inducted a total of five people into the POSCO Hall of Fame for their contributions to the normalization of the steelworks: Kim Young-gu, Team Leader of the Pohang Steelworks Equipment Technology Department; Jang Jin-guk, Assistant Manager of the Wire Rod Department; Choi Joo-han, Plant Manager of the Steelmaking Department; Kim Hyun-man, Team Leader of the Rolling Equipment Department at Gwangyang Steelworks; and Lee Deok-ho, Executive Director of the partner company PTM.
The attendees enjoyed the exhibition "Forgetting the Pain of 2022, Connecting the Future," which depicted the 135-day recovery process. The exhibition will continue until March of this year on the first floor of the Pohang headquarters, and after the exhibition ends, the works will be transferred to the POSCO park1538 History Museum for permanent preservation.
POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jung-woo presented plaques of appreciation to the heads of meritorious organizations who took the lead in supporting the restoration of the steel mill at POSCO headquarters in Pohang on the 10th. (From left) Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jung-woo, Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters Chief Lee Young-pal, and Processing Center Presidents' Council Chairman Bae Jong-min, CEO of Munbae Steel. [Photo by POSCO]
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