▶ Conquering the world with just one wire! Over 70% of Korea Steel’s sales come from overseas. This would have been impossible without Korea Steel’s quality. Korea Steel realized from the beginning that it could not succeed by selling wires only domestically, and focused on making the world’s strongest wires. As a result, Technip, a global plant company, also uses Korea Steel’s special wires. The most important part of an oil exploration vessel is the deep-sea pipe. This pipe must pump oil from 3,000m or more deep under the sea, and Korea Steel’s special wires are used as reinforcement materials for the pipes. Korea Steel currently has overseas production and sales corporations in 12 countries, including the United States and China. It exports to over 80 countries around the world, and overseas sales account for 60% of total sales, making it a globally recognized company. ▶ Stubbornly walking a single path with only wires, 68 years In 1945, wires, the basic material for advanced industries, were entirely dependent on imports from Japan. Chairman Hong Jong-yeol decided to localize wire, saying, “Technology is the only way to survive.” In 1961, after much research, Korea Iron and Steel succeeded in localizing wire. In 1962, it exported to Vietnam for the first time, and later began exporting to Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 1978, it established a joint venture with Luxembourg’s Al Bhed Steel Group for special steel wires. Due to the overwhelming demand, it established a local factory in Malaysia in 1989. Finally, it succeeded in developing wire for bridges. However, there was no place that could use the wire for bridges that it had developed. At the time, it was not easy to enter the wire for suspension bridges, which were dependent on Japanese technology. This was because it had no experience. Korea Iron and Steel began technology development in collaboration with the city of Busan and conducted numerous tests. And finally, it made a new history. Currently, the main cables and hanger ropes of Gwangan Bridge, Korea’s first suspension bridge, are all made of Korea Iron and Steel’s wires. ▶ A company that values ​​its talent, Korea Iron and Steel Korea Iron and Steel has a total of 4,700 employees, which is quite a large number for a mid-sized company. How does Korea Steel treat its employees? It's all about 'trust'. In 1995, Korea Steel's union declared a permanent no-strike policy. The union also left all wage negotiations to the company. The company paid more attention to the welfare of its employees. It has not laid off a single employee since its founding. This was possible because the company and its employees trusted each other. There are no irregular workers or foreign workers in this company. It also took care of retirees. Korea Steel's Eonyang Plant has a factory for retirees. The average age of this plant is 63, and the oldest worker is over 70. Bringing back retirees with advanced skills has become the biggest foundation for Korea Steel's growth. ※ This video is from [Little Giant - Hidden Champion of the World Wire Industry, Korea Steel], which aired on December 1, 2013. #Wire #Cable #Steel