Fourth cleanup since adoption in Sept. last year

Waste collection paired with monitoring of debris trends

Employees of Korea Zinc's Onsan smelter take part in a volunteer beach cleanup at Pyeongdong Beach in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. [Korea Zinc]
Employees of Korea Zinc's Onsan smelter take part in a volunteer beach cleanup at Pyeongdong Beach in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. [Korea Zinc]

Employees of Korea Zinc's Onsan smelter carried out their second "adopted beach" cleanup of the year at Pyeongdong Beach in Ulju-gun, Ulsan, the company announced Monday.

Staff who took part in the Wednesday activity focused on collecting marine debris that had washed ashore, including plastics, household waste and discarded fishing gear.

The "adopted beach" initiative is a marine environmental conservation campaign run by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, under which companies and organizations adopt a specific beach and carry out regular cleanups and ecological protection activities. Korea Zinc adopted Pyeongdong Beach on Sept. 6 last year, which marks National Resource Recycling Day, and has since held two cleanups last year — in September and November — and two more this year, in September and this month. This marks the fourth volunteer activity since the adoption agreement was signed.

In addition to collecting marine debris, Korea Zinc also monitored waste patterns at Pyeongdong Beach during the activity. Drawing on data from the 46.9 kilograms of marine waste collected during the first cleanup in September, the team assessed the types, sources and trends of debris washing onto the beach. The Onsan smelter plans to continue combining regular volunteer activities with ongoing monitoring to maintain the adopted beach going forward.

Beyond the adopted beach program, Korea Zinc is pursuing broader marine ecosystem restoration efforts. In July, it signed an MOU with the city of Ulsan and the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency to jointly carry out a public-private partnership project to cultivate underwater seaweed forests. Funded by a 100 million won ($74,700) contribution from Korea Zinc, the project targets Pyeongdong Beach — where a seaweed forest was established in 2018 — and will run through June 2027. Planned activities include creating seaweed propagation zones, controlling herbivorous species such as top shells and sea urchins, collecting waste, conducting coastal cleanups and monitoring marine biodiversity.

"It is deeply meaningful that our employees have come together with a shared commitment to protecting the local marine environment and are putting that commitment into consistent practice," an official at Korea Zinc's Onsan smelter said. "We will continue to carry out regular adopted beach cleanups and monitoring with direct employee participation, and do our part to build a clean and healthy marine ecosystem together with the local community."

Korea Zinc conducts its corporate social responsibility activities under its "KZ CLOVER" strategy, focusing on four areas: talent development, donations and volunteering, environmental sustainability, and culture and the arts. The company runs education and scholarship programs for youth and university students, and has sponsored the "Metal Craftsperson of the Year" award supporting metal craft artists for 13 consecutive years.

During the Ulsan Industrial Festival held this month, Korea Zinc also ran a citizen participation fundraising program under the theme "A thermometer of love filled with citizens' support — Korea Zinc is with you." The company plans to donate the proceeds through the Ulsan Community Chest of Korea to those in need across the region.


eyre@heraldcorp.com