POSCO Chairman Facing Opposition to His Reappointment
POSCO chairman Choi Jung-woo is seeking reappointment as chairman at a general shareholders' meeting slated for March 12. Yet he is facing strong opposition from progressive civic organizations and some lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party.
A group of civic organizations held a rally on March 10 to criticize POSCO and Choi for promoting a coal-fired power plant project in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, and business ties with Myanmar's military-owned companies.
The rally was organized by KTNC Watch at the Catholic Center in Myeong-dong, Seoul, along with the Climate Crisis Emergency Action and the Association of Korean Citizens Groups Supporting Democracy in Myanmar. They were joined by the Catholic Climate Action, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Buddhist Climate Action, the Korea Metal Workers' Union, and Youth Climate Action.
"Even though Korea has declared the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050, POSCO is continuing the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Samcheok, which will emit 12.8 million tons of greenhouse gases every year when completed," the 12 organizations said in a joint statement. They also claimed that the number of premature deaths from air pollutants is expected to reach 1,081 under the worst case scenario. “The coastal erosion of Maengbang Beach is expected to accelerate out of control due to maritime construction, driving residents out of their bread-and-butter jobs."
They also censured POSCO for helping Myanmar's military which is massacring citizens demanding democratization after staging a military coup. POSCO C&C set up two joint ventures with MEHL, a company owned by Myanmar's military, and POSCO International and POSCO E&C own more than a 50 percent stake in the Yangon Lotte Hotel Project, which is promoted on a military-owned site.
Participants even condemned POSCO chairman Choi Jeong-woo, calling him "a climate villain, a labor villain, and a human rights villain."
Meanwhile, some lawmakers of the ruling DP also expressed their opposition to Choi’s reappointment as POSCO chairman for his failure to prevent industrial disasters. The lawmakers include Lee Nak-yon who stepped down as head of the ruling party on March 9.