포스코, 예술과 기술로 풀어낸 철의 순환…‘강철의 진화’ 2편 화제

POSCO, a South Korean steel giant, has unveiled a second part of its documentary series, "Steel's Evolution," which explores the steel industry's technological advancements and circular resource management. The series, available on POSCO Studio's official YouTube channel, highlights the importance of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards a low-carbon future.

The documentary begins with artist Pak Yeji in her workshop, where she transforms discarded steel into art. She describes the process of recycling steel as giving it new life, turning it into a fresh existence through the circular process of conversion. Pak has also created a new piece, "Circle of Nature and Steel," which showcases the steel's cyclical potential on a larger industrial scale.

The centerpiece of the second part is POSCO's massive electric arc furnace in the Gujangan Steel Mill, capable of processing up to 2.5 million tons of scrap steel annually. This equipment is a critical component of POSCO's efforts to reduce carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to the 2017-2019 average. The exact carbon reduction rate depends on factors such as scrap supply and the power generation source (Scope 1&2).

Guangyang Steel Mill's electric arc furnace operations manager, Choi Hyun-seok, stated that "carbon reduction is an opportune time to implement practical solutions using electric furnace technology." He added that expanding electric furnace adoption will accelerate progress toward the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets.

Professor Kim Jin-su from Hanyang University's Resource Environment Engineering Department, a climate and energy expert, joined the video to discuss the practical challenges of decarbonization in the steel industry. He emphasized that energy source transitions affect steel production costs and the competitiveness of related industries, underscoring the need for government support in building clean energy infrastructure.

POSCO officials hope this episode will resonate with audiences and contribute to a growing public consensus on the importance of carbon reduction measures in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The video has garnered significant attention, with 86,000 views and 260 comments, many of which praised the innovative process of giving new life to discarded steel.