SB선보(에스비선보)

 Sunbo Unitech attended the “Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Ship Block Manufacturing Regional Meeting for the Prevention of Serious Accidents in the Shipbuilding Industry” held on April 29 at the Busan Regional Employment and Labor Office. Representing the Gupyeong Plant of Sunbo Unitech, Executive Director Im Young-sam (Head of H.S.E) and Senior Staff Bae Sang-jun (HSE Team) participated in the meeting. The event was organized to raise awareness of industrial accident prevention among ship block manufacturers in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, as 43.5% of the 62 fatal accidents recorded in the shipbuilding industry over the past five years occurred between April and June. Accordingly, the Busan Regional Employment and Labor Office designated the April–June period as a “focused safety management period for preventing fatal accidents at block manufacturing worksites.” During the meeting, Chief Safety Officers (CSOs) from 25 ship block manufacturing companies reviewed accident trends in the shipbuilding industry, discussed prevention measures, and shared best practices in occupational safety and health from major shipbuilders. Participants also jointly pledged to comply with three key safety rules. The H.S.E Team emphasized that high-risk hazards—such as falls, entrapment, fires, and explosions—exist at the Gupyeong Plant as they do at other worksites. Therefore, the constant use of personal protective equipment (including safety helmets, safety glasses, safety harnesses, and safety shoes) and strict adherence to safety regulations are essential. The team also encouraged all members of the Sunbo Family to work together to maintain an accident-free workplace, stressing that “there are no exceptions when it comes to safety.”

 Sunbo held its 2025 first-quarter business performance review meeting on April 28 at the headquarters training center. The meeting was attended by employees at the team leader level and above and began with the company anthem. It was conducted for approximately four hours starting at 1 p.m. Following the official launch of the “Sunshine Project” last October—established under the vision of becoming “the No.1 eco-friendly energy company navigating the world beyond shipbuilding and into energy”—the first-quarter business performance review was carried out based on this initiative. Presentations began with a report from the HSE team on environmental, safety, and health management, followed by updates from the Sales, Dadae/Gupyeong Plants, Production Design, Plant Design, Quality Management, Procurement, Management Support, Management Planning, IT, Commissioning, R&D Technology, Energy Solutions, and Sunbo Peace teams. The event concluded with closing remarks and evaluations from the CEOs of each affiliated company. With the Sunshine Project now established as a key strategic initiative, the Sunbo Family is actively focusing on achieving sales targets,preparing for a stock market listing, and expanding new business areas.  

 From May 19 to 21, fire safety drills were conducted at Sunbo’s Yeongnam worksites, including the Dadae 1 and 2 plants of Sunbo Industries, the Gupyeong plant of Sunbo Unitech, and Sunbo Peace. Employees who participated in the drills practiced responding to emergency situations such as fires, including the use of fire extinguishers and fire hoses, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and executing emergency evacuation procedures.Once the fire alarm sounded, participants evacuated quickly to designated assembly points using stairways. After evacuation, each department confirmed personnel attendance and reported the status to the fire safety manager. Although the dry spring season has passed and temperature and humidity levels are rising, fires at workplaces continue to occur nationwide. As a result, continuous inspections and the elimination of potential hazards remain key priorities in workplace safety management. 

 On April 16, Choi Geum-sik, Chairman of Sunbo Family, was awarded the Management Sector Grand Prize at the 26th Busan Cultural Awards ceremony, hosted by Busan MBC and BNK Busan Bank. Chairman Choi, who previously won the 12th Korea Marine Award in 2019 and the MBC Cultural Award for the Marine Sector in 2021, once again proved his outstanding capabilities and achievements in the marine, fisheries, and management sectors with this new recognition. Busan MBC explained, "Choi Geum-sik, who has been managing his business for over 40 years since its establishment in 1986, played a decisive role in positioning Sunbo Industrial as a global leader in the shipbuilding industry." They also highlighted, "He led research and innovation, drastically improving productivity and quality in the shipbuilding materials industry. By modularizing complex tasks and producing them as a single set, he successfully reduced the manufacturing process time, making a significant contribution to the advancement of the shipbuilding industry."​His dedication to community service and philanthropy, which strengthened cooperation between businesses and local communities and contributed to the revitalization of the local economy, was also acknowledged as a major achievement. Furthermore, it was noted that, "Based on his management philosophy that all employees are one family, he has implemented various systems such as support for employee clubs and welfare allowances, creating a favorable working environment." The Busan Cultural Award was established by Busan MBC to recognize the hidden contributors in the local community who have dedicated themselves to fields such as marine, social contribution, management, and culture.​During the award ceremony, Bang Seong-bin, Chairman of BNK Busan Bank, commented, “Chairman Choi Geum-sik, as the founder of Sunbo Industrial, introduced the world’s first ship module unit concept, improving productivity in the Korean and global shipbuilding industries.” He added, “Through the public interest foundations Sunbo Lighthouse and Seonje Scholarship Foundation, he has supported the establishment of overseas schools and scholarship programs for low-income families. His leadership as Chairman of the Busan Social Welfare Community Chest and Director of the Busan Shipbuilding & Marine Equipment Industrial Cooperative has contributed greatly to developing Busan as a global hub for the shipbuilding industry and revitalizing the local economy.”Chairman Choi Geum-sik shared, “39 years ago, Sunbo started in a very difficult environment, and today I am deeply honored and thrilled to receive this award. I dedicate this honor to all the Sunbo family and our partners who have always believed in me and supported me through challenging times.” He continued, “Sunbo has grown into a specialized company in shipbuilding materials and is now focusing on eco-friendly new businesses. Moving forward, we will continue to fulfill our social responsibilities by creating jobs for local talent and supporting disadvantaged communities.”In a particularly touching moment, Chairman Choi announced that he would donate the entire prize money of 20 million KRW, receiving a round of applause from the audience. Chairman Choi has never forgotten the support he received during the challenging early days of founding Sunbo and continues to practice giving back, becoming a significant role model for the industrial community and the local society.

 On April 12th, Sunbo hosted the "Sunbo Family Spring Hiking Event" at the Seunghak Mountain area, providing a gathering space for employees and their families to foster camaraderie and communication. At 9 AM, Sunbo Family gathered at the Healing Forest of Seunghak Mountain, enjoying the scents of seasonal plants along the hiking trail and the peaceful view of the Nakdong River while savoring the spring hike. The event was divided into nine groups based on departments, with 275 employees and their families participating, creating a lively and close-knit atmosphere. During the hike, Sunbo Family took commemorative photos at cherry blossom and azalea spots, as well as rest areas, creating lasting memories. After the hike, participants gathered at the indoor gymnasium of Dongju University for a luncheon, recreation, and prize drawings. The highlight of the recreation program, "Sunbo Song Festival: Becoming One Through Song," featured 12 teams, making for an exciting and vibrant event. Judges evaluated the teams' vocal ability, performance, fun, and preparation, awarding prizes to six teams. In addition to prize money, various prizes, souvenirs, and participation gifts were provided, enriching the family-oriented event.​ 

 Sunbo Peace successfully delivered the "UNDER GROUP UNIT," a structural component for ship ceiling installations, marking the first completed case of unit production. This project expands the production scope from the traditional pipe-based delivery to the assembly unit domain, symbolizing Sunbo Peace's leap toward becoming a multifunctional production base. In this project, Sunbo Peace took the lead in all processes, from design drawing analysis to component fabrication, assembly, welding, and quality inspection, through collaboration with other factories. The UNDER GROUP UNIT is a structure installed in the internal ceiling of ships, requiring precise dimensional customization within limited space. Due to the large number of units required at once and strict delivery deadlines, meticulous schedule and quality management were key to success. Despite these challenges, Sunbo Peace successfully met the high standards and completed the delivery. Through this project, Sunbo Peace has established a foundation for delivering expansion products, such as assembly units and modules. Sunbo Peace, like the Dadae plant, aims to establish a delivery system worth 10 billion KRW annually. To achieve this, the company is focusing on efforts such as ▲ optimizing personnel allocation, ▲ streamlining processes and implementing parallel workflows, and ▲ improving delivery reliability. Building on this success, Sunbo Peace plans to actively pursue orders for assembly units and lower modules. Additionally, it intends to further enhance the production capabilities of its six plants, including Gimhae, Dadae 1, and Dadae 2, to establish a flexible system that can respond to diverse customer demands.​ 

 The "Creating the New Sunbo Way! Sunbo Family Team Leader Workshop" took place on April 14th at Shilla Stay West Busan, with 31 team leaders from Sunbo Industrial, Sunbo Unitech, and Sunbo Peace in attendance. This workshop was organized as part of the SUNSHINE 2027 project and aimed to define the organization's identity and working methods from the perspective of the field. The workshop was based on a prior survey conducted with over 150 members of Sunbo Family. Chairman Choi Geum-sik of Sunbo Family encouraged the participants, stating, “To ensure the success of SUNSHINE 2027, we must let go of negative thoughts and break down walls with a positive attitude. The passion and unity led by you, our team leaders, will be the driving force that changes Sunbo’s future.” Vice Chairman Park Du-seon emphasized the importance of defining core values. “We must think about how to incorporate key values such as trust, quality, and sustainability into our future direction,” he said. “As team leaders, you have the ability to intuitively understand what others may not see, so please organize your insights from that expert perspective.” CEO Choi Young-chan of Sunbo Angel Partners stated, “While the Sunshine Project is about shaping the future appearance of Sunbo, this workshop is about creating the soul of Sunbo. Traditional values such as customer satisfaction, quality, and timely delivery are important, but we must also rebuild the spirit of the new era with AI and carbon neutrality.” Lee Se-young, Director of Sunbo Angel Partners and organizer of the workshop, concluded, “The discussions today will form a strong foundation for Sunbo to move forward as ‘One Team’ toward SUNSHINE 2027. After hearing more opinions at the team leader workshop at the Honam branch at the end of April, we will refine the core values of the integrated Sunbo based on the final results of the workshop.”

On April 17th, Sunbo Family donated 100 million won to the Gimhae Future Talent Scholarship Foundation. Having previously donated 50 million won to the city’s scholarship foundation in both 2023 and the previous year, this marks the third time Sunbo Family has contributed to the scholarship fund. Chairman Choi Geum-sik of Sunbo Family established the Seonje Scholarship Foundation in 2016 to support youth in his hometown of Gimhae's Hanlim region. Since 2019, he has also worked with the city of Gimhae to run a career experience camp every year, helping nurture talented individuals and broaden students’ horizons.​

On the morning of April 8th, the Sunbo Volunteer Group conducted their first volunteer activity at the Mollundae Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, providing meal service. This activity marked the first event since the formation of the volunteer group on February 19th. A total of 11 members participated in this meaningful event. Among the participants were Executive Director Choi Kyung-ho (in charge of Quality Management and Business Planning), as well as members from the General Affairs Team, Design Teams 2 and 3, Mechanical Design Team, Electrical and Detailed Design Teams, and the IT Team. Park Seong-woo, an employee from the IT Team, shared, “Although it was a short time, it was a meaningful experience to share a warm heart, and I would like to continue participating in volunteer activities in the future.” Lee Hyun-woo, a team leader from the Design Team 2, said, “I had a vague idea about volunteering, but when I went in person, I was surprised to see so many people involved. It was a great experience to realize that with just a little time, we can make a difference.” Im Hee-jeong, an employee from the Mechanical Design Team, expressed, “It was very meaningful to participate in the volunteer group’s first activity at a local welfare center. Even though it was a short time, I was able to experience the value of sharing by serving a warm meal.”

 On the last weekend of April, on the 27th, the Sunbo Family participated as a group in the 7th Gijang Sea Marathon, strengthening camaraderie. With Sunbo Industrial sponsoring 10 million won as a supporting sponsor, a total of 53 participants from the company joined the event, enjoying a run along the beautiful Gijang coastline and relishing the brief spring weather. The course was divided into 5km, 10km, and half-marathon distances, allowing everyone from beginners to marathon enthusiasts to take part. In addition to the marathon, various side events were held, including the display of participants' names at the "Marathon Park," pre-event activities, and a prize drawing, further enhancing the satisfaction of the employees and their families.

​ On April 16th, employment trainees from the Busan Economic Promotion Agency visited Sunbo Industrial and Sunbo Unitech for a corporate exploration activity.  The 20 trainees arrived at the Gupyung Plant in the afternoon, where they first toured the site and then moved to the Daeje 2 Plant to visit Building D and the control room. Afterward, they visited the headquarters, where they toured the promotional hall and design office, followed by a corporate introduction and Q&A session in the training room. Sunbo Industrial's Vice President, Seo Jae-wook, led the training and answered the trainees' questions. Sunbo actively supports customized capacity-building training programs organized by local governments and relevant institutions to help local youth improve their understanding of their aptitudes and on-site job functions. 

 Sunbo Industrial, Sunbo Peace, and Sunbo Unitech (Gupyung Plant) conducted employee health checkups from April 7th to 25th. Under the guidance of medical professionals, the checkups included basic physical measurements such as height and weight, as well as disease screenings through urine and blood tests. In addition to the national health checkups mandated by the Industrial Safety and Health Act, Sunbo supports the self-management of its Sunbo Family through various internal health promotion programs.

 ​Sunbo Industrial conducted a morning seminar on April 9th and 16th at its training center. The April morning seminar, held under the theme of 'Mutual Respect and the Dignity of Attitude,' was led by instructors Noh Ju-won and Son Ye-som. The lecture covered various topics such as ▲ the power of attitude and manners ▲ keywords for mutual respect and communication ▲ dress etiquette ▲ attitude and title etiquette ▲ telephone etiquette, with various surveys and case studies being presented. Through this seminar, Sunbo Family was able to reflect on the attitudes of consideration and respect needed in the workplace and explore ways to achieve intergenerational communication.

  On March 26, the Junior Board and Sunporters hosted a special executive town hall event titled “Jjin Talk Day” at the Sunbo Industries headquarters’ reception room. The session was designed to foster open dialogue and mutual understanding between junior employees and company executives.  Organized by the Junior Board and Sunporters, Jjin Talk Day serves as a platform where entry- and mid-level employees can meet directly with executives to share suggestions, voice concerns, and propose improvements related to company operations and workplace culture.  The latest session brought together three executives and ten employees to discuss a range of topics including work environment and systems, organizational culture, employee benefits and facilities, and internal events. Representing Sunbo’s leadership were Vice Chairman Dooseon Park, Executive Vice President Jaewook Seo (Corporate Support), and Senior Managing Director Kyungho Choi (Corporate Planning & Quality Management). Participating employees included Jeongseok Kim, Sangwoong Kwon, Suhwan Kim, Jinho Baek, Myungho Lee, Bongsu Jang, Jihye Kang, Nawon Ko, Youngjoon Park, and Suji Lee, who presented pre-collected feedback from their colleagues across the company. Ahead of the event, the Junior Board and Sunporters conducted a survey to gather ideas and concerns from employees—both work-related and personal. A total of 57 employees responded, representing a balanced cross-section of ranks: 3 executives, 14 team leaders, 26 senior staff, and 14 junior staff. Based on the survey, the following key proposals were raised during the meeting:  Work environment improvements such as overtime and on-call policy adjustments, extended summer leave, and better understanding around the use of annual leave Organizational culture enhancements, including more horizontal communication, better schedule transparency, and greater fairness in performance evaluations Welfare and infrastructure suggestions, including upgrades to aging facilities, expanded cultural activity support, and increased funding for company clubs Additional topics, such as rescheduling internal events, creating a dedicated customer service team for EPC products, regularizing team dinners with financial support, and clarifying roles and responsibilities between departments The executive team listened carefully to each item and shared candid feedback, including feasibility assessments and potential implementation plans. Through this candid exchange, participants were able to deepen mutual understanding and explore tangible ways to improve the workplace and company culture. Following its relaunch in February with new members, the Junior Board and Sunporters continue to organize various events aimed at strengthening bonds between employees and promoting a family-friendly corporate culture across Sunbo.​ 

  Sunbo Industries has successfully completed the supply of core equipment for a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) project, marking a significant milestone in its offshore LNG capabilities.  In this project, Sunbo provided essential skid units—critical systems for the production and supply of LNG at sea—under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract. Notably, this was the company’s first instance of executing the entire process independently, from basic and detailed engineering to production design and manufacturing, following a direct request from the client.  This achievement is particularly meaningful as it demonstrates Sunbo’s ability to deliver a turnkey solution for complex offshore energy infrastructure. Recognized for its technical expertise and high-quality standards, Sunbo has been invited to take on an expanded scope of work (SoW) in upcoming projects with the global client.​ 

  On March 17, Sunbo Hightech held the "Sunshine 2027 Sharing Session" as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen communication with employees through on-site engagement.  In preparation for the session at the Honam site, key executives and employees participated in a series of preliminary discussions aimed at generating actionable ideas and identifying practical improvements. The goal was to ensure that the Sunshine Project could be carried out more effectively, with increased input from frontline teams and operational staff.  The session began with Seyoung Lee, Director of Sunbo Angel Partners, presenting the findings of the “Interview 100” initiative, which was conducted company-wide last year. He also relayed additional insights collected from Honam site employees on the day of the event. Following this, Sunbo Angel Partners CEO Jonghoon Oh emphasized the strategic importance of the Honam site in Sunbo’s new business sectors, particularly in driving eco-friendly initiatives such as carbon capture. He expressed confidence in the site’s ability to lead the Sunshine Project through a strong field-driven approach. Kyung-hyun Sung, Director at Lighthouse Combine Invest, offered a detailed overview of the project’s execution and management systems from a hands-on operational perspective. Deok-soo Ko, CEO of Carbon Value, highlighted the market potential and competitiveness of the carbon capture equipment jointly developed with Sunbo Industries, crediting the rapid growth of Carbon Value to the manufacturing excellence at Sunbo's worksites. Kim Sangdo, CEO of Sunbo Hightech, also addressed the attendees, stating, “The key to this project’s success lies in genuine empathy and active participation from every team member. Let’s work together to ensure the Honam site becomes a leading force in driving the Sunshine 2027 vision with its ideas and on-site capabilities.” Going forward, the Sunshine 2027 project team will hold quarterly sharing sessions and open forums at the Honam site, while monthly team leader roundtables will be held to continuously reflect employee feedback and ideas in the project’s development.​