Abstract: A method for improving the internal center segregation and center porosity of a continuously cast slab, wherein an unsolidified side edge portion and a given area at the upstream side of the cast slab during continuous casting are defined as a plane reducing zone; a holding means is provided having two sets of top and bottom walking plane reducing compressing means at the plane reducing zone, front and rear supporting shafts common to the sets, eccentric cams for each set arranged at the front and the rear supporting shafts for holding and releasing of the cast slab, and a front and a rear displacement mechanism; the cast slab holding position of the upper surface of the bottom side walking plane reducing means of each set is set within 0.5 mm of the deviation on a passline of a continuous casting machine; the cast slab holding position of the lower surface of the top walking plane reducing means of each set is set at a desired reduction taper having a plane reduction ratio of 0.5 to 5.