[창업자로부터 온 편지] 박태준 - 당신의 신념은 무엇입니까?

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“철은 산업의 쌀입니다. 쌀이 생명과 성장의 근원이듯, 철은 모든 산업의 기초소재다.” - 박태준 회장. 1978년 3월 28일 연수원 특강 中

‘한국의 철강왕’ 청암(靑巖) 박태준 포스코 창업회장. 제철보국(製鐵報國)이란 기치 아래 양질을 철을 값싸게 보급, 우리나라 산업이 여기까지 오는 데 혁혁한 공을 세운 인물입니다.

물론 이를 가능케 한 포항제철(포스코의 전신)이 하루아침에 세워진 건 아닙니다. 육사 출신인 박 회장은 1963년 육군 소장으로 예편 후 경제인으로 변신, 1964년 대한중석(現 대구텍) 사장으로 임명됐는데요.

1년 만에 대한중석을 흑자 기업으로 전환하는 데 성공한 박태준 회장은 이 성과를 기반으로 ‘종합제철소 건설’이란 막중한 임무를 맡습니다.

“(박태준 회장에게) 고속도로는 내가 직접 감독할 테니, 종합제철은 임자가 맡아.” - 박정희 전 대통령. 1965년 6월 청와대에서

하지만 한국에서의 일관제철소 건설, 이견이 만만치 않았습니다. 세계적 전문기관과 제철 전문가들은 한결같이 무리라고 판단했지요. 지원을 약속하던 KISA(대한국제제철차관단)마저 부정적 평가를 내릴 정도.

절망적인 예상들이었지만 멈출 순 없었습니다. 박 회장은 일본으로부터 받은 배상금이 포항제철에 대규모 투입됐음을 강조했지요. ‘선조들의 핏값’임을 임직원에게 상기시키며, “책임을 다하지 못하면 역사의 죄인이 된다”는 신념으로 무장합니다.

“실패할 경우 우리 모두 우향우, 영일만에 투신해야 한다.” - 박태준 회장

그리고 이 같은 신념을 잃지 않기 위해 그는 업무의 모든 부분에서 ‘완벽’을 기했습니다. 허술한 점이 단 하나라도 보이면 전부 되돌려 처음부터 다시 시작하는 식.

1977년의 불량 콘크리트 폭파 사건은 그 대표적 사례입니다. 포항3기 건설공사 도중 가볼트가 박힌 채 작업이 허술하게 진행된 걸 발견하고는 다 폭파하라고 지시한 것이지요.

“폭파하고 다시 해! 이렇게 불량하게 제철소를 지어 놓으면 쇳물이 제대로 나올 것 같아?” - 박태준 회장

이미 기초공사가 80% 이상 진척된 상황이었습니다. 그간 들인 비용과 시간을 감안하면 폭파는 결코 쉽지 않은 결정이었는데요. 하지만 잘못 꿰어진 단추가 박태준 회장에게 타협의 대상이 될 순 없었습니다.

‘청탁 금지론’ 또한 그의 이런 스타일을 잘 드러냅니다. 당시 여당이던 공화당 실세들의 끊임없는 청탁을 모조리 거부한 가운데, 청와대 실세인 박종규 실장이 보내온 청탁 편지를 그 자리에서 찢어버린 일화는 특히 유명합니다. 제철소 건설에 누가 될 가능성이 조금이라도 있는 건 모조리 차단했던 셈.

이 같은 완벽주의 성향이 일적인 면에서만 나타난 건 아닙니다. 박 회장은 직원들의 일생을 책임지겠다며 그들의 삶 하나하나 역시 꼼꼼히 챙겼지요.

대단위 주택단지 조성, 주택자금 장기 무이자 대여 등 포스코의 복지는 그 증거라 할 수 있습니다. 최고 수준의 각급 학교 및 장학 지원도 마찬가지. 내부승진 전통의 수립과 급여제도를 꾸준히 발전시킨 것도 그 일환입니다.

“포항과 광양을 시찰한 뒤, 종업원 복지시설을 보고 큰 감동을 받았다. …(중략)… 난 한국의 경제발전 과정과 기업가 정신의 역할에 대해 평소 가지고 있던 편견을 수정해야 했다.” - 존 헤일리(John O. Haley, 미국 워싱턴대학교 법과대학 부학장)

박 회장은 “실패에서 배우는 게 바람직한 기업인”이라는 헤일리 부학장에게 “우리에겐 실패할 여유가 없다”고 털어놓은 바 있는데요. 모든 면에서 완벽주의자이길 마다하지 않았던 근원에 ‘실패 불가’란 사명감이 있었음을, 잘 드러내는 대목이지요.

사명감이란 말이 낯설어진 시대. 그럼에도 불구하고 내 행동들에 의미를 심어줄 신념 하나를 갖고 있다는 건, 성공 방정식의 여전한 한 종류가 될 수 있지 않을까요?

“목표를 달성하기 위해선 그에 상응한 의욕이 앞서야 하고, 이를 뒷받침할 확고한 신념과 행동이 수반돼야 한다.” - 박태준 회장

당신의 신념은 무엇입니까?

이성인 기자 silee@