POSCO Future M carried out employee volunteer work on April 22 to help restore the ecosystem of Naengcheon stream in Pohang. About 40 employees and family members made seed balls by mixing loess and seeds and threw them across the Naengcheon area. The area is being restored after typhoon damage in 2022. The volunteer work was part of the “Future M Nature Guard Day” programme aimed at restoring biodiversity in the local ecosystem and cleaning up the environment.

Seed balls reduce seed loss and raise germination rates. They also help soil recovery through a natural fertiliser effect. They can be planted by throwing them into areas that are difficult for people to access, and are widely used for ecosystem restoration and urban greening. The company said that once the seed balls sprout and grow, plants suitable for river environments will take root around Naengcheon, including the nationally protected Aster koraiensis, as well as Caryopteris incana, Chrysanthemum indicum, Agastache rugosa and Lythrum salicaria.

Employees’ children also took part in the activity and experienced ecosystem restoration. Lee Ji-hyun (이지현), a deputy general manager in the Basic Materials Planning Group, said, "I enjoyed making and throwing seed balls by hand with my child, and it was rewarding to take part in restoring an urban stream ecosystem." She added, "I hope the various plants we planted today grow well so my child can live in a healthier natural environment."

POSCO Future M plans to continue “Future M Nature Guard Day” once each in the first and second half of the year, centred on areas near major business sites including Pohang, Gwangyang and Sejong. The company said POSCO Group manages biodiversity as a key issue at group level and contributes to building a sustainable society through various environmental protection activities, including creating sea forests.