Across The Board
South Korean steel maker POSCO has been evaluated as a respectable company home and abroad as it has invariably done volunteer activities for a better society since its foundation.
In particular, it established a college student volunteer group (Beyond) to actively take part in volunteer works in various parts of the world. Over the years, Beyond has carried out volunteer works and shown cultural performances in many countries including India, Vietnam, Taipei, and Indonesia.
The college student volunteer group Beyond, which POSCO founded to contribute to the spread of volunteer work and sharing culture, recently marked its 10th anniversary. The 10th opening ceremony held at POSCO Center on July 7 served as an opportunity for one thousand college students selected this year to meet and have a heart-to-heart talk with POSCO Chairman Kwon Oh-joon.
The group started its first activity with building steel houses for the households damaged by fires in parts of the country, including Incheon, Yangpyeong, Pohang, Gwangyang, and Yecheon for eight nights and nine days from July 20 this year.
POSCO has taken the lead in developing local communities. The steel maker, which started sister village activities for social contribution for the first time in 1988, officially established the “POSCO Volunteer Group” in 2003 to engage in social activities vigorously more than ever.
A monthly average of some five thousands POSCO employees take part in volunteer works on the third Saturday of each month designated as “Sharing Saturday.” Executives also visit their company’s first to fourth partner small and medium-sized enterprises located in Pohang, Gwangyang, and the Seoul-Incheon area to participate in Pro Bono activities
Meanwhile, POSCO goes beyond its domestic boundary to take the head in supporting the self-reliance of underdeveloped countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, into which it has already made or will make inroads.
POSCO designated one week from May 28 through June 3 as “POSCO Global Volunteer Week” to carry out a variety of volunteer activities under the concept of mature sharing. The POSCO Global Volunteer Week is a classic example of social contribution activities, in which POSCO Group’s globally scattered volunteer groups engage to fulfill talent sharing and volunteer works for a week in their local community.
Volunteer activities suitable for local characteristics were carried out in relays overseas. Locally-customized versions of volunteer activities such as provision of daily necessities for the underprivileged and installing toilets in welfare centers were carried out in many countries of the world, including China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico, where POSCO Group operates its business.