[Interview] "More Korean steel products to Latin America!"

– Interview with Yang Ji-ho of main office and Santiago of BGT branch –

From September 10 to 14, the head office of steel carried out the education at main office for the major global staffs. Among global staffs who participated in this education, we selected staffs who had accomplished the successful results through cooperation with the staffs of main office and had an interview with them about the project and the process together with the staffs of main office. The first interview was given to Yang Ji-ho, a staff of heat-rolled and cold rolled team and Santiago, a staff of BGT branch who accomplished successfully the initial supply of thick plate of Hyundai Steel Company to Colombia last December.

Please introduce the initial supply of thick plate of Hyundai Steel Company to Colombia by mutual cooperation.

Yang Ji-ho (hereinafter Yang) : Colombia in Latin America is occupied mostly in the market by Chinese products and it is very difficult to supply Korean products which is higher in price than Chinese products. Due to such reasons, there was no supply results at that time but I wanted to make Korean record in the market covered mostly by Chinese products. I thought that if such records are accumulated, I could make more big opportunities in the future. .

Santiago (hereinafter San) : As Hyundai Steel is the global company, it is natural to have more strategic and bigger goal than demands that Latin America wants to. However, the supply volume of Korean steel products to Colombia was not big than I expected. Thus, cultivating this market was our duty as well as our goal.

If you had some difficulties while proceeding the project, please let us know?

San : in Colombia market, this project is also price-oriented. At that time, we identified the timing of market uptrend from China. At that time, Chinese government reduced the volume of Chinese steel due to environmental regulation and the supply volume was reduced. Thanks to that, the export price increased. In this situation, we continued to identify the response of partner company with HSC and the price trend waiting for the potential opportunity.

Yang : We had difficulties as we had to supply Korean products in the market occupied by Chinese products. And the market did not consider the quality and we had to compete only with price in the place that Korean premium does not exist.

What was main job of each other for this project and how did you communicate?

Yang: I prepared the theory for HSC about “Why you must deal with this customer company?”. I prepared the estimated profits to get if we dealt with this customer company. And even if our job was not easy due to the time difference, we contacted frequently to communicate well. Because there are difference in discussion culture and personal idea. We continued to reduce the difference of view by talking each other about how to discuss in the future etc.

San : I prepared the theory about “the profit you get if you buy HSC products” to persuade our customers. In addition, in the process to communicate with Mr. Yang, I tried not to give a pressure unilaterally. As we are from different country, there are difference in the culture and working performance method of each country. But we reduced the difference through continuous communication and I think I got good results from the project. I thank you Mr. Yang Ji-ho for your trust to me and teaching me about the job. Thanks to him, I could share the knowledge and experiences as well as grow together.

Please tell us about the strength of the opposite partner you found while working together or you want to follow.

Yang : The strength of Santiago is discussing with customer persistently and trying to make it successful. The fighting spirit of Santiago! I want to follow it.

San : Mr. Yang Ji-ho is social and expert for technical issues. He is very diligent and unlimited person that I can contact him whenever I need him really. Mr. Yang Ji-ho is the person who can indulge himself in difficult job with passion. He is the man that our company needs and all over the world needs like Yang Ji-ho.

What is your future plan or personal goal?

Yang : I want to sell Korean steel products more in Latin America region. I think this trade is very meaningful in such rough area. I wish Hyundai Corporation will be known very well and remain as excellent steel trader in Latin America region.

San : I am sure that we are the people who carry the next generation of this company. Thus, I want to jump into newer and more challenges.