[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Steel is upping its efforts to market more quakeproof products as demand grows for safer housing in Korea, according to the steelmaker on June 29.



The need for secure buildings has been rising here amid the series of earthquakes that jolted southern regions of the country last year. People realized that the peninsula is no longer a quake-free zone. Reflecting the changing perception, Hyundai Steel sold 590,000 tons of high-strength H-section beams, or SNH (Steel H-Section New), in 2016, which was more than sevenfold that of 80,000 tons it sold in 2011.





Hyundai Steel's quakeproof steel products





This year, the steelmaker aims to sell more than 600,000 tons. It has already delivered a batch of SNH in February to the state-run Korea Land & Housing Corporation.



“Through active marketing efforts, we hope to promote safer buildings and emphasize the value of quakeproof construction,” the steelmaker said in a statement.



To further raise public awareness, Hyundai Steel held a nationwide competition earlier this year for a brand name and slogan for its quakeproof steel products. The new brand will be launched based on the results.



For quality control, Hyundai Steel has obtained the Korean Industrial Standards certificate for quakeproof steel products and is avidly expanding its production capacity.



Believing that a community is necessary for further growth, Hyundai is also hosting seminars for discussing the application and prospects of quakeproof steel with industry experts, its partner firms and customers.







Hyundai Steel hosted an industry seminar for discussing the application and prospects of quakeproof steel.

Enhanced government efforts for reinforcing construction regulations is viewed as another factor propelling the growth of quakeproof steel. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is currently preparing to revise the enforcement rules of the Construction Act to mandate all new houses have an earthquake-proof construction design.Under the amendment, non-housing buildings -- that are two stories or higher with total floor area of 200 square meters or more -- must be built with quakeproof designs.By Ahn Sung-mi ( sahn@heraldcorp.com