Hanwha Chairman Seungyun Kim Visits Daesan Plant, Calls for Strengthening Technological and Quality Competitiveness

First On-Site Management Activity of the Year... Visit to Hanwha TotalEnergies
"Safety Is an Essential Competitiveness That Precedes Strategy"
Review of Carbon Capture Technology... "Elevating National Prestige"
"I Will Strongly Support Hanwha TotalEnergies' Leap Forward"

Seungyun Kim, Chairman of Hanwha Group, visited the Hanwha TotalEnergies Daesan Plant in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, as his first on-site management activity of the year. According to the company, this visit was intended to emphasize the importance of safety and encourage employees by directly visiting a petrochemical facility that has been struggling due to a prolonged recession.

According to Hanwha Group on the 17th, Chairman Kim, upon arriving at the plant, presented "Back to Basic" as the main theme and reiterated the importance of research and development (R&D) competitiveness and safety management. He stated, "Due to the global economic slowdown and rapidly changing market paradigms, the materials and energy industries are facing an unpredictable environment," and urged, "In addition to all efforts for cost reduction and plant efficiency, please focus on strengthening technological and quality competitiveness through continuous innovation."

Chairman Kim first listened to an overview of the plant’s operations at the promotional center, then moved to the site to inspect key production facilities. He also visited the disaster prevention center to observe a real-time emergency response drill based on the digital disaster prevention map system and Remote Monitoring System (RMS). The Hanwha TotalEnergies Daesan Plant covers approximately 3.3 million square meters (1 million pyeong) and is the only integrated petrochemical complex in Korea that houses crude oil refining facilities (CFU), naphtha cracking centers (NCC), petrochemical product production lines, and an R&D center within one site. Its key feature is the ability to organically link R&D and production.

After the site inspection, Chairman Kim said, "Today, I was able to directly experience your capabilities, technological prowess, and passionate dedication on site," and added, "Safety is a value that can never be overlooked; it is an essential competitiveness that precedes any technology or strategy and forms the foundation for sustainable growth." At the research center he visited next, he examined the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) pilot facility, a core technology for achieving carbon neutrality, and received a briefing from researchers on development achievements. He emphasized his determination and sense of mission, saying, "Such future technologies not only ensure Hanwha's sustainability but also elevate the national prestige of Korea."

Lastly, Chairman Kim had lunch with employees at the staff cafeteria, listened to their concerns, and engaged in open conversation. He encouraged them by saying, "Those who take bold challenges always find new opportunities," and added, "I will be a strong supporter for Hanwha TotalEnergies, the core of the group's energy and materials business, as it embarks on a new leap forward."

Meanwhile, Hanwha TotalEnergies aims to become a global top-tier petrochemical and energy company by leveraging its plant operational efficiency and R&D capabilities.