LS MnM Marks 90th Anniversary, Unveils New Vision 'RISE beyond 100'

Also held a ceremony marking the completion of the Onsan battery materials plant
Koo Jaeun: "We will open up a bright future"

LS MnM said it held a ceremony marking its 90th anniversary and the completion of its battery materials plant in Onsan at its Onsan Smelter in Ulsan on November 10.

About 150 guests from the local community and industry attended the event, including LS Group Chairman Koo Jaeun, LS MnM Board Chairman Koo Jagyun, LS MnM CEO Koo Donghwi, Ulsan Mayor Kim Sangwook, National Assembly Member for Ulju County Seo Beomsoo, and L&F CEO Heo Jehong.

Key figures perform a ceremony at the event marking LS MnM’s 90th anniversary and the opening of its battery materials plant in Onsan. In the front row, from left: Chilean Ambassador to Korea Matthias Francke; Ulju County Mayor Lee Sun-geol; Ulsan Mayor Kim Sangwook; LS Group Chairman Koo Jaeun; LS MnM CEO Koo Donghwi; National Assembly Member for Ulju County Seo Beomsoo; Lee Minwoo, Director General for Industrial Growth at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Duclos. In the second row, from left: Seo Jeongwook, Vice Chairman of the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Inveni Chairman Koo Jacheol; E1 Chairman Koo Jayong; LS Board Chairman Koo Ja-yeol; LS MnM Board Chairman Koo Jagyun; L&F CEO Heo Jehong; and Yang Yeongbong, head of the Ulsan branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. LS MnM

LS MnM began in 1936 as the Janghang Smelter, the first large-scale modern industrial facility in Korea. It is considered one of the companies with the longest histories in Korea's heavy industry sector. It has grown into one of Korea's leading nonferrous metal smelting companies, through a series of changes including its launch as a state-owned enterprise after liberation, privatization and incorporation into the Lucky Group (now LG Group), the establishment of a global joint venture, and its separation as an LS Group affiliate. It began using its current name in 2022. Last year, it recorded revenue of approximately KRW 15 trillion.

LS MnM's Onsan Smelter is a digitally integrated smelting facility ranked No. 2 in copper cathode production capacity among single smelters, with world-class scale and technology. Its main products include base, precious, and rare metals such as copper cathode (high-purity copper refined through electrolysis), gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and selenium. It also produces sulfuric acid and high-purity sulfuric acid for semiconductor manufacturing from gas generated during the copper smelting process. In addition, the company has been developing its battery materials business since 2023 to secure new growth drivers.

At the event, LS MnM announced its new vision, "RISE beyond 100." RISE is formed from the first letters of "Raise value by Integrating Strategic metals & Materials Value Chains while Ensuring Sustainable Growth." The phrase "raise value" means providing greater trust and opportunities to all stakeholders, including supply chain partners, customers, the nation and local communities, and employees. "Beyond 100" expresses the company's ambition to continue growing beyond 100 years and make an even greater leap forward.

LS MnM also held a completion ceremony for its battery materials plant in Onsan. Built on a site covering 95,006.8 square meters, the plant is an integrated production facility capable of processing both MHP, a primary feedstock, and black mass, a recycled feedstock. It will produce 24,000 tons of nickel sulfate, as well as metal sulfates for precursor materials, including cobalt sulfate and manganese sulfate, and lithium hydroxide for cathode materials. These products are set to be supplied to precursor manufacturers, including LS-L&F Battery Solution. The industry expects operations at LS MnM's battery materials plant in Onsan to contribute to the localization of battery materials and help expand infrastructure for the growth of national strategic high-tech industries.

At the event, Chairman Koo Jaeun said, "I believe LS MnM, the starting point of LS Group's energy infrastructure value chain and a company playing a pivotal role in Vision 2030, will open a bright future through its new vision and businesses."

LS MnM CEO Koo Donghwi said, "I would like to thank all our employees who have dedicated themselves with passion and wisdom throughout our long 90-year history, as well as our raw material partners, customers, the nation, and local communities, who have contributed to our growth through their cooperation and support." He added, "We will strive to make an even greater leap forward as a company that raises value for everyone."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.