On the 20th, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation delivered advanced assistive devices to war veterans, active firefighters, and soldiers at the POSCO Center in Seoul. The photo shows Jang In-hwa, Chairperson of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation, examining a robotic prosthetic hand. Photo by POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation
On the 20th, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation delivered advanced assistive devices to disabled national veterans and active firefighters and soldiers at the POSCO Center in Seoul.
The national veterans advanced assistive device support project is a program that provides customized advanced assistive devices to national veterans and active firefighters and soldiers who have disabilities due to war injuries or public service injuries, supporting their practical independence. It is a representative social contribution project of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation, which has been promoted since 2020.
In 2020, marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation signed a business agreement with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and has been the first in Korea to support advanced assistive devices for disabled national veterans. Up to last year, it has delivered robotic prosthetic arms and legs, multifunctional wheelchairs, AI hearing aids, and more to 156 people.
The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation, together with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Medical Command, and the National Fire Agency, identifies recipients among national veterans and active soldiers and firefighters. The final recipients are selected through medical suitability reviews by the Central Veterans Hospital under the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and assistive device suppliers, as well as on-site interviews. This year, 23 people were selected.
About 50 people attended the event, including Jang In-hwa, Chairman of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation; Kang Jung-ae, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Yoon Jong-jin, Chairman of the Korea Veterans Welfare and Medical Service; and national veterans selected as recipients.
At the event, Jang In-hwa, Chairman of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation, said, "I hope that the advanced assistive devices prepared with the gratitude and sincerity of POSCO Group employees will provide some help and comfort to the national veterans who have devoted themselves to the country."
Also, Kang Jung-ae, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said, "I thank the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation for supporting advanced assistive devices to national veterans every year. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will do its best to establish a culture that respects and honors those who have devoted themselves to the country."
At the subsequent advanced assistive device delivery ceremony, representing the attendees, national veteran Chu Yeon-hee, who became paraplegic due to a fall accident during military service in 2008, and Fire Lieutenant No Seok-hoon, who lost his left hand due to electric shock from a high-voltage wire during firefighting duties in 2015, received a robotic prosthetic leg and robotic prosthetic arm, respectively.
Chu Yeon-hee, currently active as a disabled rowing athlete affiliated with SH Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation, shared her thoughts: "It was difficult to stand on my own and I had many challenges in daily life, but now I am very happy that I can actively fulfill my roles as a strong rowing athlete, a wonderful father, and husband."
No Seok-hoon, Fire Lieutenant, who is currently serving as an instructor at the Bitgoeul National Safety Experience Center, expressed, "Just as the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation gave me new hope, I will also diligently perform my duties and become someone who can give courage to others."
Meanwhile, this year, advanced assistive devices were delivered not only to 23 individual national veterans but also expanded to four veterans hospitals in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Daejeon. In particular, the advanced assistive devices provided to the veterans hospitals are wearable gait rehabilitation robots developed by the Korean company Angel Robotics, making the expansion of domestic advanced assistive device distribution even more meaningful.
The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation is operated with donations from POSCO Group and partner company employees and matching grants from the company. Going forward, it plans to actively identify and support those in need of assistance for independence, such as disabled national veterans.
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