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South Korean Ambassador Highlights $5.8B Louisiana Steel Mill During LSU Visit
South Korea's ambassador to the United States visited Louisiana State University on October 27, 2026, to discuss advanced manufacturing and industrial investment as Hyundai-POSCO advances its $5.8 billion steel mill in Donaldsonville. The project is expected to create more than 1,300 direct jobs and begin production in 2029.
By Paul Ploumis
Published: October 28, 2026
Event date: October 27, 2026
Key Points
- Diplomatic visit: Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha met LSU representatives to discuss U.S.–South Korea investment, technology and manufacturing cooperation.
- Steel investment: Hyundai-POSCO is developing a $5.8 billion electric arc furnace steel mill in Ascension Parish.
- Employment: Louisiana officials project more than 1,300 direct and approximately 4,100 indirect jobs.
- Production: The facility targets 2.7 million metric tons of annual steel capacity, with operations planned for 2029.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha visited Louisiana State University (LSU) on Tuesday, October 27, highlighting expanding industrial and technological cooperation between South Korea and Louisiana.
The visit follows the September 4 groundbreaking of Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel's $5.8 billion manufacturing facility in Donaldsonville, one of the state's largest announced industrial investments.
Hyundai-POSCO Mill Targets 2029 Production
The new electric arc furnace steel mill is designed to produce approximately 2.7 million metric tons of flat-rolled steel annually, primarily serving the U.S. automotive and manufacturing sectors.
Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will create more than 1,300 direct jobs, with an average annual salary of $95,000, alongside approximately 4,100 indirect jobs.
Commercial production is targeted for the first quarter of 2029.
LSU Partnership Focuses on Steel Technology and Workforce Development
During Tuesday's event at the LSU Student Union, representatives from the university, the Korea Economic Institute of America and South Korean institutions discussed investment, emerging technologies and research collaboration.
LSU and Hyundai Steel signed a research agreement in June 2026 covering advanced steelmaking, materials science, energy systems, robotics and workforce development.
The collaboration is intended to help develop specialized skills and technical capabilities supporting the new manufacturing facility.
ScrapMonster Edge: New Steel Capacity Could Create Demand for Metallic Feedstocks
The planned Hyundai-POSCO facility will combine direct reduced iron (DRI) and recycled steel scrap in electric arc furnaces.
At its planned annual capacity of 2.7 million metric tons, the mill represents a significant addition to U.S. flat-rolled steelmaking capacity.
For scrap suppliers: The project could create additional opportunities in the regional metallics supply chain. However, the company has not established a publicly confirmed scrap purchasing volume or feedstock mix, so its eventual impact on regional scrap demand and prices cannot yet be quantified.
Visit Also Highlights Maritime and Supply Chain Cooperation
The LSU discussions concluded Ambassador Kang's two-day visit to South Louisiana.
On October 26, she participated in discussions at Tulane University in New Orleans addressing maritime security, commercial shipbuilding and supply-chain cooperation between the United States and South Korea.
The meetings highlighted how Korean investment in Louisiana extends beyond steel manufacturing into research, logistics and other industrial activities.
Sources: Louisiana State University; Louisiana Economic Development.
Courtesy: www.wbrz.com
