POSCO TJ Park Foundation held a “Homecoming Day” event on October 21 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the POSCO World Academic Club (PWAC), which originated from the overseas doctoral scholarship program established during the era of the POSCO Scholarship Foundation, the predecessor of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation. The event celebrated 35 years of the program’s legacy in nurturing top-tier global talent and provided an opportunity for PWAC members, who have made remarkable contributions in various fields, to reconnect and strengthen their bonds.

 

 

The event was attended by around 40 participants, including Professor Do-Bin Lim of Seoul National University (current PWAC President), Dr. Sung-Hwan Cho, President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Ambassador Chul Hee Park (former Ambassador to Japan), and Professor Won-Woo Lee of Seoul National University (Board Member of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation), as well as members’ spouses and foundation officials. Dr. Sung-Hwan Cho expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thanks to being selected as a PWAC scholar, I was able to complete my Ph.D. studies in the U.S. without financial worries. The late Honorary Chairman Park Tae-Joon instilled in us a deep philosophy about Korea’s economic development, which has guided my growth ever since.”

 

 

The ceremony began with a congratulatory message delivered on behalf of Chairman In-Hwa Jang, who was away on an overseas business trip. In his remarks, Chairman Jang stated, “The POSCO Overseas Scholarship Program was a proud initiative that cultivated the leaders who contributed to Korea’s national development. I am confident that Honorary Chairman Park Tae-Joon would have been deeply pleased with your accomplishments.” Following this, Professor Do-Bin Lim, President of PWAC, shared his welcoming remarks, saying, “Since its establishment in 1990, PWAC has been a proud community that has carried forward POSCO’s philosophy of human resource development across academia, industry, and public administration. It is our duty to preserve and continue this meaningful tradition.”

 

 

Professor Hyung-Soon Kim, Emeritus Professor at Inha University, delivered a report titled “35 Years of PWAC: Reflections and Evaluation”, revisiting the academic and social contributions that members have achieved over the past decades.

 

 

Attendees then watched a video presentation titled “The Beginning and Success Story of POSCO,” which traced the life of Honorary Chairman Park Tae-Joon and the history of POSCO’s growth, adding a poignant and inspiring touch to the event. The ceremony concluded with a presentation of a plaque of appreciation from PWAC members to Chairman In-Hwa Jang, representing their gratitude to POSCO and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.

 

 

The Homecoming Day served as a meaningful occasion to look back on the 35-year journey of PWAC and to reaffirm the enduring value of POSCO’s commitment to talent development. Participants expressed their hopes that “today’s gathering will mark a new beginning” and promised to continue fostering connections and collaboration among members.

​

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation will continue to uphold the philosophy of Honorary Chairman Park Tae-Joon, who emphasized the importance of nurturing talent, and will remain dedicated to supporting future generations as they take on challenges and make meaningful contributions on the global stage.