The eagerly anticipated 16th Iron & Steel Marathon Competition, coming a long time after the 15th competition, finally took place on May 20. At 8 in the morning, the competition venue of MISA Boat Race Park in Hanam began to fill up with enthusiastic participants, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to the event.
Hyundai Steel employees came early from all over Korean to Hanam to participate in the marathon. Even though many traveled long distances, participants could be seen smiling brightly as they stepped off the buses. To commemorate the event, employees from each region also took group photos.
Inside the Hyundai Steel booth, there was a neatly decorated photo zone, and the sounds of people snapping pictures could heard. Families, teammates, and friends posed affectionately together, celebrating the Iron & Steel Marathon.
The roulette event prepared by the Steel Talk Team for the participants was particularly popular among those who came with young children. After verifying their membership on the Steel Talk webzine site, participants had the opportunity to spin the roulette wheel and receive a prize. If you spun the wheel, you could land at “Roulette King” or “Roulette Runner-up” which gave you a chance to win a prize by answering an OX quiz correctly. “Consolation Prize” and “No Prize” were other options that you could land, which added to the fun. President & CEO An Tong-il of Hyundai Steel also personally spun the roulette wheel and participated in the quiz.
In addition, there were diverse events and booths for the participants to engage in. There was a social media subscription event for followers of Hyundai Steel’s official YouTube channel and Instagram accounts, as well as an information booth for the 70th anniversary commemorative charity walk. Participants spent a busy day exploring different photo zones and joining in on the various activities.
Afterwards, the marathon preparations began in earnest. All marathon participants went to the front of the venue for warm-up exercises while executives and other VIPs took the stage and encouraged the participants taking part in the marathon.
The marathon started out with a 10 km race, followed by a 5 km race. Participants ran the course at their own pace. There were families walking together and pushing strollers, kids riding kickboards, and fathers carrying tired children. Even though the wind was cool, as the sun grew hotter, completing this challenging run and crossing the finish line brought a sense of accomplishment. Along with feeling satisfied for the day, it instilled a determination to leap forward towards tomorrow.
After a brief and intense period, a total of three winners, including the family of a Hyundai Steel employee, were announced. Ms. Lim Sun-young, the wife of Park O-jin from Dangjin Integrated Steelworks (Special Steel Machine Maintenance Team), secured first place in the women’s 5 km race. Ji Young-sik of the Electric Arc Furnace Quality Team, who was introduced as a true ironman in Steel Talk, placed second in the men’s 5 km race, with Park Dae-woo of the Cold Rolling Management Team earning second place in the men’s 10 km race.
“We are delighted to see even more participants in the marathon, which is taking place after a four-year break,” commented CEO An Tong-il. “I hope that the experience of completing this marathon will serve as a foundation for advancing towards success in our lives, encouraging us to embrace challenges, pride, and perseverance.” He also promised that Hyundai Steel will continue to provide comprehensive support for the happiness and health of all staff.
The beautiful May weather and all the participants running with enthusiasm and laughter passed in an instant. The 2023 Iron & Steel Marathon, which was attended by some 40 steel companies and over 4,000 family members, came to a successful close. The competition served as a venue for unity and camaraderie within the steel industry, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.