Steel industry professionals gathered for the Iron & Steel Marathon, an event aimed at fostering unity within the steel community. The marathon was held on May 17 at Misari Regatta Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. Fortunately, the heavy rain from the previous day had cleared, and the participants were welcomed by clear skies and pleasant spring weather. SeAH employees also took part in the event. After a year-long break, they enjoyed the lively atmosphere and shared a dynamic, memorable day with others in the industry.

The night before the 18th Iron & Steel Marathon, concerns ran high. A sudden downpour and strong winds left many wondering whether the event could take place the next day. Thankfully, by early morning, the rain had stopped. The event staff members wasted no effort and worked tirelessly to prepare the venue. Some structures were damaged by the storm, but thanks to overnight restoration, the venue was fully prepared and ready without any major setbacks.

Thanks to the hard work of many behind the scenes, over 5,000 steel industry professionals arrived at the venue with their families on the morning of May 17, smiling under the bright sunny skies.

Marking its 18th year, this year’s marathon was held under the slogan, “Steel on the Move Again, Together Toward the Future.” The event captured the industry’s aspirations for renewed growth. A variety of engaging programs were organized to make the day even more special.

Children took part in fun activities on the main stage, including “Steel Soccer Kids” and “Best Shooter.” The event also featured a photo wall commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Korea Iron & Steel Association, along with CPR training sessions. Booths from participating companies were set up throughout the venue. SeAH’s booth stood out for its vibrant energy, as employees and their families gathered, adding to the festive spirit. Before the race began, participants took time to stretch and warm up, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

At 8:30 a.m., broadcaster Kim Han-seok officially opened the event. The crowd gathered in front of the stage as cheerleaders delivered an energetic performance. This was followed by opening remarks from prominent industry leaders, including SeAH Steel Vice Chairman, Lee Howard Hwiyoung and Chang, In-hwa, Chairman of the Korea Iron & Steel Association and POSCO. The venue buzzed with applause, cheers, and excitement.

After the opening ceremony, participants gathered at the starting line. The marathon was divided into two courses: a 10km course and a 5km course. The 5km race, in particular, was filled with families running together, creating a lively, festival-like atmosphere.

With a spirited countdown of “5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Go!” the runners took off. Among them were employees from SeAH. Holding their children's hands or running side by side with coworkers, their faces full of excitement and joy.

Each runner set their own pace. Some pushed hard to set a new personal best. Others kept a steady pace, while many simply focused on enjoying the moment with family and friends, matching their stride to stay together. The diverse styles and rhythms of running added even more energy to the event. But above all, the goal was simple— to finish the race safely. The warm sunshine, the sound of laughter, and the sparkle of sweat in the breeze created a cheerful atmosphere.

Around 20 minutes later, runners began crossing the finish line. Among them were Young-jun Son and Byung-chan Kim from SeAH CSS’ Safety Environment Team. They paused to catch their breath, smiling brightly with sweat still on their faces.

“My goal was to run the whole way without stopping… I only stopped twice,” Young-jun Son joked with a laugh. Byung-chan Kim added, “I really wanted to do better than last year, and I did— I finished in 27 minutes and 30 seconds. I feel great about it.”

The first SeAH member to cross the finish line in the 5km race was Sung-hoon Lee from SeAH Steel’s STS Export Team. He completed the race in 21 minutes and 30 seconds. “It was really tough, but hearing I came in first made all the fatigue disappear,” he said with a bright smile. “I didn’t expect much today but pushing through without stopping led to a good result.”

Among the finishers was Young-won Do from SeAH Steel’s Procurement Team 2, who ran alongside his third-grade son. “I was worried because of yesterday’s heavy rain, but thankfully the skies cleared. The weather was perfect for running,” he shared by adding, “It became an unforgettable memory, especially running with my son.”

Chang-hyun Kim from SeAH Besteel Holdings’ Business Planning Team also ran the marathon with his second-grade son. “This is already our sixth time running marathons together,” he proudly said. “My son is really starting to love it, and his records keep improving. I look forward to creating more of these special moments.”

Over in the 10km race, Seong-jun Park from SeAH Besteel Holdings’ Business Management Division, took first place with a remarkable time of 42 minutes. “I’m glad all my daily training paid off,” he said. “The weather was especially hot today, but I’m thrilled with my performance. I also want to thank all the hardworking members of SeAH Group.”

After the race, SeAH participants relaxed with a delicious buffet and refreshing drinks at the company booth. The energy at the venue stayed high as a prize giveaway followed, featuring drink coupons, vitamins, red ginseng, toys, and more.

To wrap up the day, SeAH employees gathered in front of the camera for a final group photo. Smiling brightly, they stood side by side, proudly shouting “SeAH!” in unison.

SeAH employees ran harder than anyone, laughed together, and came together as one. The 18th Iron & Steel Marathon was more than a race—it was a meaningful day to once again witness the powerful progress of the steel industry and the strong bonds shared among SeAH colleagues.