A researcher-turned-executive with expertise spanning technology, production and marketing

Honored at the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials' 80th anniversary ceremony

Posco Group Chairman Chang In-hwa [Posco Holdings]
Posco Group Chairman Chang In-hwa [Posco Holdings]

Posco Group Chairman Chang In-hwa has received the Metals and Materials Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials, in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the metals and materials sector in South Korea.

The institute presented the award to Chang at its 80th anniversary ceremony held in Daejeon on Thursday.

The Metals and Materials Award is the institute's most prestigious honor, given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field and its related industries. The institute cited Chang's sustained contributions to metals and materials technology and the broader development of the industry.

Chang is a technology specialist who has worked across research and development, steel production and marketing. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in naval architecture and earned a doctorate in ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined the Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology in Pohang in 1988 as a senior researcher and went on to serve in a series of roles at Posco, including head of steel solution marketing, head of technology investment, head of steel production, and president and chief executive.

Since taking the helm of Posco Group in 2024, Chang has focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the group's core steelmaking business while developing secondary battery materials and energy as key growth pillars.

Posco Group's earnings have also shown signs of improvement. Posco Holdings announced Monday that its consolidated operating profit for the third quarter reached 945 billion won ($705 million), up 47.9 percent from the same period a year earlier. A recovery in profitability in the steel segment drove the improvement, though the secondary battery materials business continues to face headwinds from falling lithium prices.

Meanwhile, the award ceremony was held as part of the institute's 80th anniversary celebrations. The event drew about 700 attendees, including former institute presidents, members and representatives of major corporate sponsors. Held in conjunction with the autumn academic conference and general assembly, the gathering reviewed the development of South Korea's metals and materials technology over the past eight decades and discussed future research directions.

Founded in 1946, the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials has expanded its scope alongside the growth of South Korea's steel and metals industries. In recent years it has broadened its research and exchange activities beyond traditional metallurgy to encompass semiconductors, energy, aerospace and AI-based materials technology.

Marking its 80th anniversary, the institute unveiled a new vision: "Defining the future through materials design." It pledged to strengthen collaboration among industry, academia, research institutions and government, and to invest in international academic exchange and the cultivation of talent in future materials fields.

"The 80th anniversary is both a celebration of our history and a starting point for preparing a new future," institute President Kim Hyung-seop said, adding that the organization aims to raise South Korea's competitiveness in materials and grow into a world-class academic community.


kwater@heraldcorp.com