SeAH Holdings continues to elevate ethical management and transparent disclosure as core values in its corporate governance framework—efforts that are now yielding meaningful recognition in global evaluations and regulatory achievements.

SeAH Holdings was named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies 2025” by the Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. This year, 136 honorees were recognized spanning 19 countries and 44 industries, and SeAH Holdings is the first Korean company to receive this honor for two consecutive years.

The company was also recognized by Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service as an “Excellent Corporation in XBRL Financial Disclosure,” acknowledging its thorough implementation of global-standard XBRL disclosures that enhance investor accessibility and promote the internationalization of Korea’s capital markets. SeAH Holdings continues to strengthen transparent stakeholder communication by actively responding to the expanded XBRL disclosure requirements.

SeAH is driving smart manufacturing innovation to create safer and more efficient production environments.

SeAH Besteel has introduced automated equipment into its small-bar straightening and surface-painting processes, reducing musculoskeletal strain and minimizing paint dispersion associated with manual work. By applying an XYZ three-axis orthogonal automation system, water-based paints free of hazardous chemicals, and integrated dust-collection equipment, the company significantly enhanced both worker safety and environmental protection.

At the Changnyeong plant, the introduction of the “ACM Cutting Wheel Monitoring System” has improved equipment management efficiency, enhanced operational safety, and prevented quality defects.

SeAH Steel is expanding its smart factory initiatives through the application of DX and AI technologies across its production lines—using AI-based material property prediction systems, anomaly detection models, and MES integration for JCO welding processes to enhance quality control and process efficiency.

SeAH Coated Metal has adopted AI and machine-learning-based price forecasting models that predict raw material price fluctuations with approximately 80% reliability, contributing to improved profitability.

Through these efforts, SeAH is laying the foundation for a “people-centric, technology-driven” smart manufacturing ecosystem that supports its transition toward the next generation of manufacturing excellence.

In 2025, SeAH made meaningful progress toward its goal of securing “materials sovereignty,” focusing on technological advancement and expanding supply capabilities. By strengthening its portfolio of core materials used across advanced industries and the energy sector, the company has further solidified its technological self-reliance amid an increasingly competitive global landscape.

SeAH CSS became the first company in Korea to develop ultra-high-performance superalloy materials capable of maintaining their properties at temperatures exceeding 1,650°C for use in the aerospace sector. The company also succeeded in commercializing 900°C-grade superalloys, demonstrating its technological leadership in high-value-added advanced materials.

SeAH Besteel achieved another industry first by obtaining a certificate from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its dual-purpose casks for the transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel. Building on this milestone, the company successfully delivered the first batch of KN-18 spent nuclear fuel transport casks to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. Each cask can carry 18 bundles of spent nuclear fuel generated from light-water reactors, and design enhancements have significantly improved safety and overall performance compared to previous models.

SeAH Steel has strengthened its presence in the cryogenic market by developing high-manganese steel pipes, supplying stainless steel pipes to Samsung C&T for Qatar’s North Field LNG expansion project. The company is also diversifying its product portfolio through the development of threadless rigid conduits.

SeAH’s continued efforts to strengthen technological self-reliance and supply capabilities in strategic materials are expected to not only establish a more resilient foundation for the company’s long-term growth amid shifting global industrial dynamics, but also contribute to enhancing national industrial competitiveness.

Despite a challenging and uncertain business environment, SeAH continued to expand its R&D investments to drive future value creation.

SeAH Besteel has developed a new special steel wire rod with significantly enhanced cleanliness compared to conventional oil and gas–grade steel. The material is designed with strengthened resistance to hydrogen-induced cracking, enabling consistent performance even when exposed for extended periods to petroleum containing high concentrations of hydrogen.

SeAH Aerospace & Defense is currently constructing a new high-strength aluminum plant in Changnyeong, Gyeongnam Province, with an annual production capacity of 770 tons. Equipped with state-of-the-art extrusion presses and Korea’s first rapid-quenching heat treatment system, the facility will produce core aluminum materials used in aircraft fuselage and wing structures.

SeAH is also accelerating efforts to build a global supply chain that supports its expansion into the global market.

SeAH Superalloy Technologies (SST), the superalloy manufacturing subsidiary of SeAH CSS, is building a dedicated superalloy plant in Texas, USA, scheduled for completion in 2026. The facility is expected to serve as a strategic hub for the North American aerospace and defense markets.

In addition, SeAH Gulf Special Steel Industries—a joint venture with Aramco—is constructing a stainless steel seamless pipe and tube manufacturing plant within the King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), with commercial operation targeted for the first half of 2026.

These forward-looking R&D initiatives and global investments are expected to serve as a driver to elevate SeAH’s position within the rapidly evolving global industrial landscape.

SeAH is redefining industry standards by translating its sustainability commitments into practical, execution-focused strategies.

In February, SeAH Besteel Holdings obtained ISO 14067 certification (Product Carbon Footprint) for all special steel products manufactured by SeAH CSS. This certification establishes a system for managing carbon emissions across the entire product lifecycle—from raw material sourcing to shipment, transportation, and recycling.

SeAH Besteel has also taken meaningful steps in renewable energy adoption by signing a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Hanwha Qcells, enabling the company to source solar-generated renewable electricity beginning in the second half of this year. SeAH Steel has likewise entered into a PPA with Hanwha Shinhan Terawatt Hour to accelerate its RE100 implementation.

SeAH Steel’s Gunsan plant was the first steel pipe manufacturer in Korea to earn the Gold rating for the U.S. UL Solution’s Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) validation. It achieved a 99% waste recycling rate in 2023, excluding heat recovery incineration. More recently, SeAH Besteel obtained the Platinum rating under the U.S. ZWTL validation system. The Platinum rating is awarded only to sites that achieve a 100% recycling rate, underscoring SeAH Besteel’s sustained and proactive commitment to sustainability.

These execution-led sustainability initiatives are expected to strengthen SeAH’s foundation for long-term growth while serving as a key driver of sustainable transformation across the broader industrial landscape.

SeAH has once again demonstrated its global competitiveness in brand communication, with its consistent content strategy—rooted in the company’s brand philosophy—continuing to earn recognition on the world stage.

Its 2025 brand film “I’m STEEL here” has won Red Dot Design Awards in the Brand & Communication Design category.

SeAH has consistently enhanced its brand value through the annual production of brand films that reflect its philosophy and identity. This marks SeAH’s second Red Dot Design Awards in the same category following its 2023 win, making it the first company in the Korean steel industry to receive the honor twice.

The award-winning film tells a story of a young boy who discovers inspiration and grows through an encounter with a steel-made toy figure named “Captain SeAH.” The film earned acclaim for its emotional storytelling, cinematic quality, and an original soundtrack that metaphorically conveys the enduring and sustainable value of steel.

The SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation, established in honor of the late Chairman Lee, Woon-Hyung, continued its unwavering commitment to supporting arts and culture throughout the year.

In March, the foundation presented the 2025 SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation’s Concert at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, delivering a deeply moving performance of the opera Rusalka. Since 2015, the foundation has consistently introduced high-quality productions to help make opera more accessible to the public, and this year’s 10th anniversary performance was met with enthusiastic acclaim.

The foundation also signed a three-year agreement with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra through 2027. As part of the partnership, SeAH will support the Orchestra’s U.S. tour and collaborate on jointly planned classical and opera productions. These efforts aim to expand the global reach of Korean classical music while broadening the foundation for the performing arts.

The SeAH Haiam Art and Scholarship Foundation continued to advance its mission of nurturing talent and expanding academic opportunities in 2025 through a wider range of scholarship initiatives. The Foundation selected the 33rd class of Haiam Scholars—undergraduate students from four-year universities across Korea—providing both living expense scholarships and academic support. It also launched the fourth round of its Career Challenge Scholarship Program, designed to identify and support young talents with entrepreneurial ambition and a spirit of innovation. These efforts carry significant meaning, as they represent a balanced approach to both financial assistance and potential-based support.

Since its establishment in 1992, the Foundation has remained committed to serving the public good and fostering future generations through scholarships and academic research support. The Foundation’s 2025 programs continued this legacy, offering a strong and reliable foundation of support to many students.

SeAH continues to fulfill its corporate social responsibility through a wide range of initiatives that facilitate environmental protection and support for vulnerable communities. Moving beyond one-time donations, the Group is committed to sustainable giving driven by direct employee participation—creating lasting social value.

In Korea, approximately 800,000 tons of discarded clothing and textile waste are generated each year, yet the recycling rate remains below 40%. In response, SeAH launched an upcycling campaign to repurpose used work uniforms collected from its business sites. More than 1,000 uniforms gathered from six affiliates were washed, regenerated, and transformed into polyester fiber, which was then used to produce 300 children’s sweatshirts. Employees personally visited local community centers as “one-day Santas,” delivering the upcycled sweatshirts to children and reinforcing the campaign’s meaningful purpose.

The company-wide digital donation drive, “One Meal Gift,” also concluded successfully. For every donation made by an employee, an equivalent amount was matched in the form of mobile meal vouchers for children in need. Approximately 300 employees participated, raising over KRW 9 million and providing more than 400 meal vouchers.

In addition, SeAH Steel, SeAH CSS, SeAH Special Steel, and SeAH Aerospace & Defense collectively donated KRW 300 million to support recovery and emergency relief efforts for wildfire victims in the Yeongnam region.

SeAH’s sharing campaign, which began in 2015, continued this year as well. Employees across the Group have come together this year to support the medical treatment of Yuchan, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall, and Taewon, who is experiencing developmental delays due to Goldenhar syndrome and cerebral palsy.