Exterior view of POSCO International’s Songdo headquarters./POSCO International
POSCO International (047050) said on the 27th that it has completed a proof of concept (PoC) with LG (003550) CNS for trade finance infrastructure technology that applies blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) to the global trading environment, with the verification concluded on the 23rd.
The move aims to efficiently manage transaction and settlement operations with overseas subsidiaries, which are increasing as the company expands its global business, and to accelerate the digital transformation of trade operations.
The two companies verified digital technologies across three areas: shared-ledger-based transaction status sharing, tokenization of accounts receivable as real-world assets (RWA), and AI agent-based automation of trade operations.
The verification focused on confirming whether transaction, settlement, and document review tasks arising in the global trade process could be digitally connected and automated to improve operational efficiency and risk management. POSCO International provided the verification environment based on its global trade network and actual transaction data, while LG CNS handled system architecture design and the verification of blockchain and AI technologies.
First, the companies implemented a method of sharing transaction information among the head office, overseas subsidiaries, and partners in real time based on a blockchain shared ledger. Previously, transaction information was managed separately by country or subsidiary, requiring repeated verification during the contract and settlement processes. The shared-ledger-based structure allows transaction participants to check the same transaction status in real time, reducing operational risks caused by information mismatches and improving work efficiency.
In the receivables RWA tokenization area, the companies verified a structure in which accounts receivable arising from actual trade transactions can be issued in the form of digital assets and transferred, settled, traded, and managed. In this process, they used “Injective,” a blockchain network specialized for the corporate finance environment.
They also confirmed whether compliance, privacy, and regulatory response functions could be reflected at the protocol level. They examined the feasibility of permission-based asset management, know-your-customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), investor eligibility screening, and asset transfer restrictions, and reviewed whether blockchain technology could be applied across business-to-business receivables transactions overall.
The AI agent, which automatically reads documents and reviews errors, was applied to the review process for letters of credit (LC) and trade documents. Based on this, the companies examined whether they could reduce variations in review quality and human errors that may arise from differences in staff proficiency.
Global trade operations require a high level of expertise, as the required documents and procedures vary by conditions such as country, counterparty, and contract. In particular, typos or missing clauses in an LC can lead to actual delays or refusals in payment. POSCO International expected that using AI agents at the preliminary review stage would help identify related risks early and reduce quality gaps in operations among overseas subsidiaries.
“This PoC is meaningful in that it verified the applicability of AI and blockchain technology based on data and processes from actual trade sites,” a POSCO International official said. “We plan to specify a pilot operation plan in the second half of this year, focusing on areas where operational efficiency effects have been confirmed.”