Hyundai Steel conducted a training program in Korea for outstanding employees from its overseas corporations for five days from October 10 to 14.
Group photo taken after the welcome ceremony
The program was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 but was resumed last year. This year’s training session was designed to foster essential business skills through inter-corporate exchanges. The training brought together 37 overseas employees from various SSC, steel pipe, and medium-sized subsidiaries. Of the 37 participants, 8 were selected from locations in the Americas, 9 were from Europe, 9 were from India, and 11 were from China.
The participants, chosen for their outstanding performances, arrived at Incheon International Airport on October 10 and enjoyed a friendly gathering at the nearby Best Western Premier Hotel before participating in a three-day training session, held from October 11 to 13, that included plant tours and Korean cultural experiences.
On October 11, the first day of training, the group traveled from Incheon to the 2nd Cold Rolling Plant at Dangjin Integrated Steelworks, where they attended a welcoming ceremony. Kim Weon-bae, Head of the Blast Furnace Business Division, welcomed the participants, stating, “I hope this will be an opportunity for everyone here to broaden their understanding of the steel industry and other cultures.” Following his speech, Mr. Kim presented gifts that were specifically prepared for each individual participant based on questions that had been asked prior to their arrival. The gifts—cosmetics, Bluetooth earphones, and tumblers, for example—were prepared to match each person’s unique preferences and were well received by everyone. Following the welcoming ceremony, much to the delight of the participants, a special lunch was served at the 2nd Cold Rolling Plant’s cafeteria, taking into account each diner’s personal, dietary, and religious preferences and requirements.
Welcome ceremony and gift presentation
Soon after, the overseas employees toured the Integrated Steelworks and participated in a hands-on safety training and a course covering “port-raw material warehouse-smelting-ironmaking-rolling” processes. The next morning, they took a closer look at the 2nd Cold Rolling process. Participants seemed greatly impressed by the sheer scale of the steelworks and the various manufacturing processes they saw during the tour. On the survey after the tour, many expressed their pride in being part of the company.
Hands-on safety training and tour of Dangjin Integrated Steelworks
Afterwards, the group traveled to the Asan region and visited the Hyundai Motor Company’s Asan Plant. They observed the automobile assembly process and also visited Youngjin Steel, located nearby. There, they saw how products manufactured at Dangjin Integrated Steelworks underwent further processing at the coil center. The employees then traveled to Seoul for a leisurely ride on a Han River cruise, where they enjoyed the capital city’s distinctive nighttime scenery.
Han River nighttime cruise
On the third morning of the tour, the group paid a visit to the Hyundai Motorstudio in Goyang, where they gained a better understanding of Hyundai’s resource-circulation business structure, explored a diverse range of Hyundai vehicle models, and cultivated an even greater sense of pride in being a part of the Hyundai Motor Group. In particular, the permanent experiential exhibitions, such as the responsive “Smart Moving” facility and the “Design Section” that showcases thousands of aluminum columns, drew enthusiastic responses from the participants.
Tour of Hyundai Motorstudio in Goyang
After lunch at a nearby Korean restaurant, the group returned to Seoul for the next part of their tour course, involving several Korean cultural experiences. They began by visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace to explore the ambiance and architectural style of traditional Korean palaces. Next, they headed to Lotte World Tower located in Jamsil, where they spent their free time visiting the observation deck and participating in other activities in smaller groups.
Gyeongbokgung Palace and Lotte World Tower
As the final part of the tour, the trainees attended a farewell ceremony and official dinner held at Orakai Cheonggyesan Hotel. During the event, they watched a recap video of the 3-day training program and shared their impressions of their visit to Korea. “Although we work in different parts of the world, let us remember that we are one family under Hyundai Steel,” said Choi Jin-hyuk, Head of the HMG Automotive Steel Sales Group, during his farewell speech. Cristiano from Hyundai Steel Brazil, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Through this training, I have gained a great sense of pride being a member of Hyundai Steel and was delighted to meet other colleagues from around the world.”
Group photo taken at the farewell ceremony
The 37 outstanding overseas employees who participated in the training program left on October 14 to return to their respective countries. Surveyed participants said they were very satisfied with the program and that it “helped their understanding of the steel industry” and “boosted their feelings of dedication and pride in the company.”
In the future, Hyundai Steel plans to continue providing diverse forms of support for outstanding employees from overseas, and also plans to engage in a range of activities to promote exchanges between overseas corporations.