(C) POSCO

PUNE, India – At the POSCO Pune Processing Center in Maharashtra, a Korean expatriate gives a "thumbs up" to a local worker cutting steel coils. The worker responds with the same gesture. This isn't just a friendly greeting; it is a ritual meaning "Safety First." In this facility, the first thumb signifies "Safety" and the second "First."

Since establishing its Indian legal entity in 2005 to target the high-end steel market, POSCO’s top priority has been safety. In an environment where workers were often unaccustomed to wearing protective gear, POSCO introduced rigorous Korean safety standards. They implemented a color-coded helmet system—red for unskilled and yellow for skilled workers—to assign tasks based on proficiency. Signs reading "Think Family, Work Safely" are now a common sight throughout the plant.

“By constantly emphasizing the importance of safety through Seoul’s headquarters' standards, we have created the driving force that allowed POSCO to take root in India,” said Kim Geun-bae, head of POSCO’s India Processing Center.

Overcoming Challenges Through Integrity The journey was not without hurdles. In 2005, the project faced intense opposition from local residents regarding land acquisition and environmental concerns. Rather than giving up, POSCO restarted the process, eventually completing the center in December 2006.

Beyond manufacturing, POSCO focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Over the past four years, the company has donated school supplies to nearly 400 schools and provided expertise on organic farming to over 700 local residents. These efforts earned POSCO the "Rising Star" award in the Education and Literacy category at the Rotary International CSR preliminaries in October 2025.

A Trusted Partner in India’s Growth In the business sphere, POSCO differentiated itself through "strict adherence to delivery deadlines." By combining superior technology with meticulous inventory management, POSCO established a reputation as a "responsible company that values quality and trust." Local employees reportedly feel a higher sense of pride compared to those working for competitors from other countries.

Currently, POSCO operates seven plants across five Indian states. In 2024, the company recorded sales of 1.23 million tons of steel products. Looking forward, POSCO is pushing for the construction of an integrated steel mill with a capacity of 6 million tons in partnership with JSW Group, India’s leading steelmaker.

“While the business pace and decision-making processes in India differ from Korea, we are overcoming these challenges with Korean persistence,” a POSCO official stated. “We will continue to strengthen POSCO’s image as a company that grows together with India, our long-term strategic hub.”

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