KaKao

- Kakao receives the highest score out of 134 companies in the same industry, becoming the only company to be selected into the Top 1%... Only six out of 618 South Korean companies make the Top 1%

- Achievement of Kakao’s ESG management… Plans to create social values only Kakao can create

 

 [March 16, 2023] Kakao’s tireless ESG performance has once again been recognized by a global organization.

 

Kakao (CEO, Hong Euntaek) announced on March 16 that Kakao was ranked in the Top 1% of the international credit ratings company S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 (Sustainability Distinction).

 

S&P Global uses results from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), which assesses company’s sustainable business practices, to announce their annual Sustainability Yearbook, and selects the top 1%, 5% and 10% sustainable companies from each industry. Each company’s performance in environmental, social, and corporate governance, which are the three pillars of ESG, are comprehensively assessed, and companies with excellent ESG performance records are selected. This year, a total of 7,822 companies in 61 industries from around the world were assessed by S&P Global.

 

Kakao earned a score of 65, the highest out of 124 companies in the Interactive Media, Services & Home Entertainment industry, which includes major online service providers, making Kakao the only company to gain a spot in the top 1%. Out of all assessed companies, only 67 companies earned a spot in the top 1%, which includes only six out of 618 South Korean companies.

 

Since establishing the ESG Committee under the board of directors in January 2021 and creating a department that oversees ESG practices in March 2022, Kakao has actively rolled out numerous ESG activities. Kakao recently purchased renewable energy certificates (REC) from South Korea’s civic associations as part of the Active Green Initiative announced by Kakao in 2022 and has converted 100% of the energy used in its Jeju office to renewable energy.

 

Kakao was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific), and the Dow Jones Sustainability Korea Index (DJSI Korea) for two consecutive years due to its continued ESG management practices and has been globally recognized as a sustainable business. Kakao also received an AA rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) evaluation, acquired an A in the integrated category, as well as As in each ESG category, from the KCGS ESG Evaluation announced by the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS)

 

Kakao ESG Vice President Yuk Simna said that “our focus on ESG management and engagement in various activities, that includes responding to the climate crisis, operating a co-existence program and enhancing digital access, led to such outstanding results” and added that “we will continue to create social values that only Kakao can by tirelessly executing meaningful ESG activities.” (End)