Founded with the ambition to enter the North American specialty steel market, SeAH Global Inc. (SGI) marks its 10th anniversary this year. Despite ongoing challenges—including protectionist policies, the global pandemic, and instability in supply chains—SGI has continued to expand its market presence and strengthen its business structure, maintaining steady growth over the years. To commemorate this milestone, the “2026 Business Strategy Workshop,” held in Las Vegas, was organized as an opportunity to reflect on the past decade and share the company’s future strategies and direction.

SGI was established in 2016 under the slogan “Speedy Growth and Independence,” with the goal of leading the North American special steel market. Since then, the company has focused on delivering optimal solutions to meet customer needs, guided by integrity, passion, and expertise. Its business has steadily expanded from SBQ and STS to a broader portfolio including carbon and alloy steel, tool steel, forgings, and stainless steel pipes. This journey, however, has not been without challenges. In 2018, the implementation of Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act strengthened global protectionism. This was followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted key customers’ operations and posed a serious threat to the survival of the company’s business. In response, SGI worked closely with its headquarters to secure alternative demand and new customers, which helped stabilize its business in a short period of time. In particular, the development of FE Block products, carbon and alloy steel wire rods for the Oil & Gas lifting industry, the mass production of links for heavy equipment, and the development of downstream products for the energy sector marked important turning points in strengthening SGI’s business portfolio. Through close collaboration with affiliates, the company was able to overcome technical challenges and expand its market presence based on trust with customers. These experiences have helped position SGI as an organization capable of turning challenges into opportunities.

The “2026 Business Strategy Workshop,” held to mark this 10-year journey, went beyond a simple celebration and served as a strategic platform to share SGI’s future direction. Chairman / Park, Euisook attended in person, reflecting on SGI’s growth and engaging with employees on its vision for the future. During the workshop, in-depth discussions were held on market outlooks and SGI’s business strategy for 2026. The company presented four key priorities: market diversification, expansion of high value-added products, strengthening distribution competitiveness, and broadening its customer base. First, SGI outlined plans to move beyond its U.S.-focused structure by expanding into Mexico, Canada, Central and South America, and the Middle East—aiming to drive growth while diversifying risk. Second, the company plans to increase the share of high value-added products such as FE Block, tool steel, and stainless steel long products, while creating new demand through the development of additional applications. Third, strategies were discussed to expand inventory-based sales and strengthen local distribution capabilities to enable a more agile response to market changes while enhancing both market share and competitiveness. Finally, SGI emphasized the importance of continuously identifying new customers while reinforcing partnerships with key existing clients to build a stable, long-term revenue base. The workshop also featured Best Practice Awards, which highlighted outstanding cases from the field, along with recognition for long-term employees—offering a moment to reflect on the dedication and achievements of the past decade. The messages shared during the event captured the essence of SGI’s journey over the past 10 years. Chairman / Park, Euisook described SGI as “a ship navigating rough seas,” emphasizing the value of resilience that has carried the company forward through numerous challenges. Executive Vice President Ji-seong Lee noted that “the experience of overcoming repeated challenges itself represents SGI’s growth potential,” underscoring the importance of communication and collaboration across the organization. He also reaffirmed that honest communication remains a key driver of growth, even within a decentralized structure. CEO Dong-pil Kang highlighted that “the belief and passion of our people, along with the trust of leadership, have been the foundation of SGI’s growth.” He added that SGI will continue to move forward with confidence, guided by SeAH’s core values.

SGI is now preparing for the next ten years. The experience it has built in responding to market changes, along with the competitiveness strengthened through close collaboration with affiliates, is becoming the foundation for its next leap forward. Even in an environment where uncertainty—driven by protectionism and shifting supply chains—has become the norm, SGI plans to continue its steady growth, drawing on its experience of turning challenges into opportunities. In particular, its understanding of local markets, ability to respond with flexibility, and strong collaboration across the organization will serve as key strengths supporting future growth. SGI’s first decade has been a journey of finding its path to growth amid constant waves of change. The capabilities and organizational strength developed along the way now stand as the starting point for the next ten years. Moving forward, under the slogan “Speedy Growth and Independence,” SGI will continue to pursue sustainable growth in the global market, shaping a new chapter in SeAH’s future.