POSCO systematically identifies community needs and social issues annually to formulate and implement social contribution strategies. The Corporate Social Responsibility Group serves as the control tower, overseeing these initiatives. Dedicated teams at the Pohang and Gwangyang Steelworks carry out social contribution activities to effectively execute our strategies. Additionally, POSCO rigorously manages the purpose, use, recipients, and timing of major donations through the Board of Directors and the ESG Committee, which is a subsidiary body of the Board. Specifically, donations exceed 1 billion KRW are reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors, while donations exceed 100 million and less than 1 billion KRW are reviewed and approved by the ESG Committee, a specialized organization under the board of directors.

POSCO carries out a wide range of social contribution activities focused on local communities where our business sites are located. We support the economic and cultural development of these communities, provide quality educational opportunities to future generations and vulnerable groups, and make active investments in workforce development. Furthermore, we cultivate a culture where all employees are encouraged to voluntarily participate in volunteering and helping others.

POSCO leverages its unique capabilities and resources to support the creation of sustainable local communities through various contribution projects, including the development of infrastructure for local residents.

Beginning with our first sisterhood agreement with the Hagwang Village in Gwangyang in 1988, we have established relationships with 211 villages and organizations around our business sites. Our regular volunteer activities include providing help during the farming season, repairing farming equipment, maintaining village facilities, selling local specialties, supporting vulnerable groups, and offering medical support to remote villages.

Since opening in May 2004, the free meal centers in Pohang and Gwangyang have expanded to five locations (three in Pohang and two in Gwangyang). We support the operating costs, including expenses for food and facilities, and our employees actively participate in providing meal services to local elderly residents and vulnerable groups.

Since the opening of Hyoja Art Hall in Pohang in 1980, we have hosted various high-quality performances and educational events in Pohang and Gwangyang, contributing to the cultural refinement of these local communities. In 2023, we organized 10 performances, including a K-POP Festival and magic show, attracting approximately 40,000 attendees. Additionally, we held the Civilized Lecture Series 16 times, featuring lectures by experts and opinion leaders from various fields, with around 4,000 participants. Additionally, the company operates various culture and art facilities for local residents free of charge, including the Space Walk at Hwanho Park in Pohang, the multi-functional cultural space Park 1538, the POSCO Art Museum, and a dedicated soccer field and soccer team. In 2025, the Gubongsan sculpture and Park 1538 will be opened to the public in Gwangyang.

In 2023, we contributed 1 billion KRW each for the recovery of wildfire damage in Gangneung and flood damage across the country. Additionally, we provided 700,000 USD to support the recovery efforts for the Turkey earthquake. Furthermore, we took a leading role in supporting disaster victims by distributing relief kits.

We offer a wide range of educational opportunities to ensure that children and adolescents receive quality education, supporting their stable path to financial independence. Additionally, we provide stable jobs to vulnerable groups, ultimately helping them achieve financial independence and play roles as contributing members in our society.

Founded in 2007, the college student volunteer group Beyond has been practicing sharing across various parts of society with passionate and talented young individuals. In 2023, Beyond reached a cumulative membership of 1,502 members domestically and internationally. Continuing from the previous year, the group contributed to biodiversity conservation by planting 120 Goldenrain trees at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum. Additionally, we created companion plants and established a public garden to aid the psychological therapy of residents at welfare facilities for the disabled in Pohang. We also conducted environmental camps for future generations in the local communities of Pohang and Gwangyang. Notably, Beyond members developed excellent environmental board games for children and youth environmental education, distributing them to 47 local children’s centers nationwide.

Established in 1971, the POSCO Educational Foundation has founded 12 kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul, Pohang, Gwangyang, and Songdo, providing educational opportunities for children and adolescents to receive quality education. The foundation contributes to nurturing a future talented workforce equipped with a global perspective and prepared to fulfill their responsibilities and roles as members of society in the era of globalization. In 2023, the number of graduates was 2,210, bringing the cumulative number of graduates to 133,642.

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation, which originated as the Steel Scholarship Association in 1971, operates various scholarship programs both domestically and internationally to foster talented personnel in local communities and across Asia. These programs include the POSCO TJ Park Prize, POSCO Asia Fellowship, POSCO Science Fellowship, and POSCO Youth Fellowship.

In December 2007, POSCO established POSWITH, Korea’s first subsidiary-type standard workplace for the disabled. In January 2013, it was rebranded as POSCO HUMANS. We have created a barrier-free working environment for disabled employees and promoted employment stability through the support of professional rehabilitation counselors and financial assistance for the purchase of assistive devices. We also engage in social contribution activities aimed at improving the welfare of the disabled in our community. Since 2021, POSCO HUMANS has been recognized as a ‘Certified Community Contributor’ by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for three consecutive years. Furthermore, we are committed to improving awareness of disabilities through various educational programs.

In 2023, the average volunteer hours per POSCO employee amounted to 21.8 hours. Furthermore, 97% of employees contributed 1% of their salary through the POSCO 1% Foundation, exemplifying our unique culture of ‘volunteering and sharing.’ Recently, the recipient of the POSCO Grand Prize, one of the most prestigious awards presented annually by the group CEO, donated the entire 20 million KRW prize money to the local community. Additionally, employees have been involved in exemplary voluntary sharing activities, such as donating hair grown over three years for pediatric cancer patients, which have been highlighted as outstanding cases both internally and externally.

In 2003, POSCO established the POSCO Volunteer Group at a company-wide level to promote organized volunteer activities, encouraging volunteerism through sisterhood agreements at the department level. In 2014, we introduced the skillbased volunteer group, which leverages employees’ skills, talents, and expertise, expanding our volunteer efforts beyond general activities. These groups volunteered for over 8.6 million hours for the past 21 years, and received the Presidential Citation at the Korean Volunteer Awards in 2023.

Global Volunteer Week is a special volunteer activity week that POSCO Group employees have been conducting since 2010. In 2023, under the concept ‘For a Better World 2.0,’ marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of the POSCO Volunteer Group, we honored the volunteer spirit cultivated by our predecessors and demonstrated our commitment to continuing and enhancing these efforts to envision a better future together. Across 53 countries where the POSCO Group operates, we carried out over 1,000 diverse volunteer activities, including caring for vulnerable groups, conserving biodiversity, and supporting local welfare institutions.

The POSCO 1% Foundation, established in 2013, is a nonprofit organization where POSCO Group and partner company employees donate 1% of their salaries, and the company matches the amount through a matching grant program. The foundation also operates various donor participation programs, such as ‘1% My Little Charity’¹⁾ and ‘Change My Town,’²⁾ where donors can directly identify and request support for institutions and organizations in need. In recognition of these activities, the foundation received several awards in 2023, including the Minister of Health and Welfare Citation for supporting young adults preparing for self-sufficient life, the Minister of Education Award at the Korea Education Donation Awards for supporting the education of future generations in Pohang and Gwangyang, and the Minister of Employment and Labor Award at the CSR Film Festival for the digital academy project video that linked IT job training and employment for the disabled.

We will expand the number of volunteer groups, which utilize the skills, talents, and expertise accumulated by employees through their job performance, from 113 in 2023 to 120 by 2026. This expansion will enable us to carry out social contribution activities that effectively meet the needs of the community.

POSCO’s social contribution expenses are managed according to the standards of the Federation of Korean Industries, covering social welfare, sports and culture, talent development, and volunteer expenses. Since 2013, we have additionally disclosed fund details categorized as donations, community investment, and other (classified for ‘commercial initiative’).