Pohang is planning a major industrial shift. Mayor Park Yong-seon says the city will strengthen its steel base for the carbon neutrality era while pushing AI and graphene as new growth pillars. Key moves include supporting hydrogen-based steelmaking, applying for a low-carbon steel special zone, and using the government's regional electricity rate cuts to ease energy costs. The city also launched a K-Graphene Commercialization Council with POSTECH and won a 14.7 billion won project to build an AI-based verification base for graphene materials. Secondary batteries and tourism are also part of the plan. The real test is whether the hydrogen steel and graphene initiatives turn into operating projects, not just designations.
