Dongkuk Steel Mill names first supply chain ESG award winners — Chungmu Chemical, Sambo S&T

Dongkuk Steel Mill held a ceremony Tuesday to present its "2026 Supply Chain ESG Evaluation Excellence Award" plaques to Chungmu Chemical and Sambo S&T, the two suppliers selected as this year's top performers, the company said Wednesday.

It was the first time Dongkuk Steel Mill had presented such an award to supply chain partners. The recognition formalizes the company's Supply Chain ESG Evaluation program, which it has run since 2023 to strengthen suppliers' environmental, social and governance capabilities. The initiative aims to gradually raise ESG management standards across all suppliers by selecting outstanding companies each year and sharing the evaluation criteria.

To identify the winners, Dongkuk Steel Mill conducted a written assessment of key suppliers covering all ESG areas — environment, safety and health, labor, human rights and ethics — to verify compliance with the company's own standards. The top five finalists then underwent on-site inspections to assess their actual management practices.

Chungmu Chemical earned the top score across all categories in the written assessment, while Sambo S&T stood out during the on-site inspection for its management's strong commitment and company-wide participation. Dongkuk Steel Mill visited both companies at times that suited their schedules to present the plaques in person.

Lee Hyun-hee, head of the support division at Dongkuk Steel Mill, said the award was "a token of gratitude to partners who have consistently practiced ESG management, and a commitment to build a sustainable supply chain together." Lee added that supply chain ESG is "a shared competitive advantage," and that the company would support suppliers through education and consulting with a focus on building capability rather than simply conducting assessments.

Kim Yun-kyung, CEO of Chungmu Chemical, said she was honored to have the ESG efforts of all staff recognized, and pledged to contribute to building a sustainable supply chain as a trusted partner.

Kim Hyung-jo, CEO of Sambo S&T, said he was pleased to see the company's years of ESG preparation acknowledged, and expressed his commitment to working with Dongkuk Steel Mill to build a resource-circulation supply chain for the carbon neutrality era.

Meanwhile, Dongkuk Steel Mill Group has been actively investing in talent development. Last month, seven university students selected as the inaugural class of the "2026 Songwon Future Architecture Talent Fellowship" were officially appointed as "Luxteliers," and the group recently completed a successful architecture study tour in the United Kingdom.