HPLS holds Donaldsonville community day ahead of full-scale construction

Hyundai Steel-Posco Louisiana Steelworks (HPLS) hosted an event inviting local residents ahead of the full-scale construction of its plant. Through the gathering, HPLS aims to build closer ties with the local community and lay the groundwork for mutual growth, contributing to the region's development.

HPLS said Wednesday that it held "HPLS Community Day" on Sunday (local time) at Louisiana Square in Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The event, held near the site of its project, invited local residents to attend.

Held under the theme "HPLS in Harmony With Local Residents," the event drew about 700 people, including Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan. HPLS was represented by CEO Kim Hyung-jin, who also serves as executive vice president and head of Hyundai Steel's North America Steel Business Division, along with other executives and employees.

HPLS organized the event to help local residents better understand electric arc furnace steelmaking and Korea, and to share in the anticipation surrounding the project. Louisiana Square, the venue for the event, is a historic site dating back to 1806 and serves as a cultural hub where various festivals are held each year.

By holding the event at a site meaningful to Louisiana residents, HPLS expects the new steel mill to quickly become part of the community's fabric. The company plans to build a foundation for the plant's sustainable growth through continued communication and cooperation with local residents.

Sullivan, who attended the event, said, "I am pleased that the HPLS groundbreaking ceremony was successfully held. HPLS will also bring many opportunities to the citizens of Donaldsonville."

At the event, Kim presented a plaque of appreciation on behalf of HPLS to officials from Ascension Parish and the Donaldsonville mayor. The plaque recognized their cooperation and support during preparations for the plant's construction. "When the community grows and develops, HPLS can succeed together with it," Kim said. "We will continue to create sustainable opportunities for the people here and for future generations."

The event also featured a range of programs, including congratulatory performances by well-known local acts and experience booths themed around the significance of the steel mill's construction. Food stalls offered local fare and "hansik," traditional Korean food. Local artists such as Red Tape Music performed R&B, rock and jazz during the celebration.

At the experience booths, visitors took part in challenge games, including using a mini shovel to find HPLS letters hidden in a ball pit. They also stacked steel buckets within 29 seconds — a nod to 2029, the plant's target completion year. Participants who completed the challenges received gifts such as T-shirts and caps bearing the HPLS logo, as well as eco-friendly cup coasters.

Residents who attended enjoyed local dishes such as jambalaya and chicken wings alongside hansik dishes including sweet and spicy fried chicken and vegetable fried rice. The event offered a meaningful time in which the cultures of Louisiana and Korea came together. At a photo zone, visitors took Polaroid pictures using groundbreaking ceremony props such as hard hats and shovels, symbolizing the start of full-scale construction at the plant.

A company official said, "We prepared the event so that local residents could enjoy it comfortably with their families. We will continue to create many opportunities to communicate and build harmony with the local community going forward."

Meanwhile, HPLS serves as a strategic base supporting Hyundai Steel's global expansion and as a forward base for realizing the company's shift to a low-carbon production system. The plant is targeting completion in 2029 and plans to produce 2.7 million tons of steel products annually. Through HPLS, Hyundai Steel plans to expand its customer base to include not only Hyundai Motor and Kia but also US automakers.