Posco Volunteers Clear 2,500 Tons of Ocean Debris

Since 2009, employees at South Korean steelmaker Posco have been suiting up in diving gear to protect the ocean. Their volunteer group, Posco Volunteers for Clean Ocean, just hit a remarkable milestone: 2,500 metric tons of marine debris removed from coastal waters.

What started as local cleanup efforts near the company's facilities in Pohang and Gwangyang has grown into something much bigger. This year, the volunteer team expanded operations to remote and uninhabited islands around South Korea, including Dokdo, Ulleungdo, and Jeju Island.

The secret to their expanded reach? About 180 members hold professional diving licenses, with 16 holding the highest credential available: diving instructor trainer licenses. These aren't casual weekend volunteers but skilled divers who can safely remove abandoned fishing gear and waste from underwater areas that most cleanup crews can't access.

Posco actively supports its ocean-loving employees by subsidizing the costs of obtaining diving certifications. The company recognizes that investing in their volunteers' skills means protecting more of the ocean.

The group partnered with organizations like the Korea Marine Environment Management Corp. and the Ulleungdo-Dokdo Ocean Science Station to coordinate cleanup work in hard-to-reach areas. Together, they've tackled cleanup projects on tiny islands like Gajangdo near Yeosu and Jukdo in Gangwon Province, places where debris accumulates but few people can easily visit.

The Ripple Effect

Corporate volunteer programs often get dismissed as public relations exercises, but this one delivers measurable environmental impact. Removing 2,500 tons of debris means healthier marine ecosystems, safer waters for wildlife, and cleaner coastlines for communities that depend on fishing and tourism.

The program also creates a pipeline of skilled ocean advocates. By training employees as certified divers, Posco is building a growing network of people who understand firsthand what's happening beneath the surface of Korea's waters.

Moving forward, the group plans to continue expanding its geographic reach while systematically training new divers. They're positioning themselves as South Korea's leading corporate ocean protection team, proving that employees can drive meaningful environmental change when companies provide the right support.

Sometimes the biggest environmental wins come from people who simply love the ocean enough to protect it.