Dongkuk Steel Mill reported a sharp decline in profitability for last year, with operating profit falling 42.1% to 59.4 billion won and net profit plunging 76.4% to 8.2 billion won under Korean International Financial Reporting Standards (K-IFRS), while sales decreased 9.2% to about 3.2 trillion won. 

The company's performance was severely impacted by a prolonged construction sector slump that reduced demand for rebar and shaped steel, combined with rising cost pressures from a strong won-dollar exchange rate. Although Dongkuk managed to maintain stability through the third quarter due to improved plate margins, the Trump administration's 50% steel tariffs ultimately weighed on full-year results. 

Despite these challenges, the company showed signs of recovery in the fourth quarter with sales rising 6.0% from the previous quarter to 815 billion won and operating profit turning positive from a year-earlier loss. While plate products benefited from import restrictions on Chinese steel, the stronger currency offset these gains with increased cost pressures.