POSCO actively participates in the Group Human Rights Management Task Force led by POSCO Holdings, contributing to the standardization of human rights due diligence methodologies and the development of grievance handling guidelines. As a member of both the Group ESG Working Council and the Group Human Rights Management Council, POSCO plays a key role in discussing human rights issues, identifying potential risks, and formulating improvement measures across its domestic and overseas worksites.

POSCO respects and upholds internationally recognized human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO). We believe that every individual has the right to be treated with dignity. This includes the rights to life and physical security; freedom of thought, expression, and religion; freedom of association; work-life balance; the right to privacy; access to safe food and clean water; freedom from torture, slavery, and forced labor; the right to fair and decent working conditions; and protection against discrimination.
Since introducing our Code of Ethics incorporating the Human Rights Management Policy in 2003, we have taken a proactive approach to preventing human rights violations and mitigating any adverse impacts linked to our business operations and relationships. In February 2025, we declared a group-wide commitment to human rights management. To implement this, we are establishing group-level governance structures, formalizing due diligence methodologies, and building an integrated grievance mechanism, among other key systems.

POSCO publicly discloses its Human Rights Management Guidelines on the company website to ensure easy access for all stakeholders. The company also adheres to the Guidelines for Implementing Human Rights Due Diligence and the Guidelines for Operating Grievance Procedures as operational standards for respecting and protecting human rights in its daily activities.
All employees are required to make an annual pledge to uphold human rights as part of the company’s Code of Ethics. The Human Rights Center provides both online and offline training programs for employees and promotes company-wide campaigns to raise awareness of human rights.

Through the POSCO Group Human Rights Commitment, POSCO has pledged to uphold human rights management systematically and in alignment with global standards. We aim to grow as a sustainable business by respecting the rights of all stakeholders involved in our operations and fostering harmony with society.

POSCO conducts human rights due diligence across all domestic and international operations, covering both executives and employees. This process is designed to identify and assess actual and potential impacts on human rights, address outstanding issues, document our responses, and engage with stakeholders to proactively prevent and mitigate adverse effects.

POSCO conducts human rights due diligence as needed to identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts arising from its business activities, thereby fulfilling its corporate responsibilities. This process includes identifying and assessing actual and potential risks, addressing identified issues, documenting the actions taken, and engaging with relevant stakeholders to communicate how those issues have been managed. 

Since 2023, we have conducted human rights impact assessments targeting locally hired employees at overseas operations. For worksites with low assessment scores, we have carried out on-site inspections and in-depth interviews to identify root causes. Based on these findings, we have recommended improvement measures such as revising internal policies and delivering targeted training and awareness campaigns. Starting in 2025, we will expand the scope of these assessments to include all employees at domestic worksites.

POSCO operates a grievance mechanism to address human rights violations and concerns raised by employees and stakeholders across its business operations. Reports can be submitted anonymously through the Reporting Center, and the Human Rights Center ensures timely responses. Depending on the nature of the case, follow-up actions—such as audits or personnel measures—are taken. Throughout the process, POSCO guarantees anonymity, ensures procedural transparency, and upholds the independence and fairness of grievance resolution.
We strictly protect the rights of complainants and victims by prohibiting any form of disadvantage or secondary victimization. Disciplinary measures are institutionalized for violations of these principles. We also provide multiple reporting channels, including the Ethics Counseling Center (Helpline) and the Unethical Conduct Reporting Center (Hotline), to support individuals and communities affected by our operations. Every effort is made to ensure that grievances are addressed and resolved promptly.

POSCO has established a structured response process to address violations of human dignity, including workplace bullying and sexual harassment. This process prioritizes victim protection and ensures the prompt resolution of cases requiring immediate support and the prevention of secondary harm.

POSCO is committed to sustainable growth by implementing human rights management aligned with global standards.
From 2023 to 2024, we conducted human rights impact assessments for locally hired employees at 50 overseas subsidiaries, using a methodology developed in collaboration with the POSCO Institute of Management. For sites with low assessment scores, we carried out on-site inspections and in-depth interviews to identify root causes and implement corrective measures. Beginning in 2025, we will expand these assessments to domestic sites, including steelworks, the Head Office, and Technical Research Laboratories. Assessments will be conducted using a unified, group-wide methodology developed with input from an external expert organization to ensure alignment with global evaluation standards. Overseas operations will be reassessed in 2026.
All POSCO employees are legally required to complete annual training on sexual harassment prevention and disability awareness. In 2024, we achieved a 100% completion rate and aim to maintain this level going forward, including for a new human rights management training program launching in 2025. In addition, we have addressed 100% of all reported human rights violations to date and remain committed to maintaining this standard of responsiveness.