There is an employee who has been working day and night for the past 28 years at SK Innovation’s main production plant, SK Innovation Ulsan Complex (“Ulsan CLX”): Kim Young-su, the Shift Foreman of SK Global Chemical’s Production Unit 3. Let’s meet him to learn more about how he strives to secure smooth operation and safety at Ulsan CLX every day.

Q1. Hello! Please introduce yourself.

▲ Kim Young-su, Shift Foreman in charge of the 1,4-Butanediol production in Olefin Production Unit 3 of SK Global Chemical (Left)

Hello everyone. I am Kim Young-su, in charge of the production of 1,4-Butanediol at SK Global Chemical. 1,4-Butanediol is the raw material of spandex and recycled plastic. So, the material is getting the limelight as a value-added material for the future. As the affiliates of SK Innovation are promoting the “Carbon to Green” transition, I believe the 1,4-Butanediol production will bring more benefits.

Q2. How does SK Global Chemical’s Olefin Production Unit 3 work?

▲ Shift Foreman Kim have a meeting with the members of Olefin Production Unit 3 (second from the left)

The unit is divided into 4 teams working in three shifts – morning, swing, and night*. For the morning shift, I leave home at 6 AM. At 6:30 AM, I take over the tasks from the shift leader from the previous shift. After checking the details of the tasks, I get issued the work permit, hold a meeting, and make a walk-around inspection of the site. After lunch, I fill out the daily log listing all the tasks performed that day and hand over the work to the shift leader in the following shift.

(*) The morning shift is from 7 AM to 3 PM, the swing shift is from 3 PM to 11 PM, and the night shift is from 11 PM to 7 AM.

Q3. We know that Ulsan CLX operates nonstop, day and night. So how about the vacation season?

▲ (Left) Shift Foreman Kim Young-su participating in SK’s eco-friendly Sanhaejinmi Plogging campaign with the members of SK Global Chemical Olefin Production Unit 3 (Far right) / (Right) SKim Young-su separating the trash collected during the Sanhaejinmi Plogging Campaign (Far left)

During the summer, we conduct a separate inspection of the process for safe operation. Field workers pay extra attention to managing high temperatures and pressures. Because safety comes before anything else, we make sure to double, triple check the process while working on-site even when it’s very hot and tiring.

We adjust our vacation schedule with each other so that everyone can take a vacation, and we become even closer with each other in the process.

Q4. Do you want to leave any message to everyone who reads this interview?

This summer, the heat was one thing, but the never-ending COVID-19 situation made things tougher for all of us. I hope everyone will enjoy the last days of summer and work together to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.

Please click the video below with English subtitles for more details: