KaKao

- Kakao wins grand prize at the LACP 2023 Vision Awards, being selected as one of the global top 100 (60th) and Korea's top 20

- Kakao receives gold medal at the ARC Awards for two consecutive years as the only Korean company

 

[September 4, 2024] Kakao’s ESG report gained global recognition as an excellent publication.

 

Kakao (CEO Shina Chung) announced on the 4th that its "2023 Kakao ESG Report: Kakao's Commitment and Responsibility" won the grand prize and a gold medal at the LACP 2023 Vision Awards and the Annual Report Competition Awards (ARC) 2023, respectively.

 

The LACP Vision Awards is organized by the American Communication Federation (LACP) which is a marketing survey agency. More than 1,000 businesses and organizations participate in the LACP Vision Awards to have their ESG reports and communication data evaluated. Kakao won the Platinum rank which is the highest grade in the ESG report for the telecommunications industry, being awarded for three consecutive years.

 

Kakao received a total of 99 points (out of 100 points) by earning the perfect scores in seven out of eight evaluation items, such as first impressions, cover design, message for stakeholders, content composition, financial information, clarity of message, information accessibility, etc. Kakao’s global ranking rose by 34 places from 94th last year to 60th this year, being included in the global top 100 companies list for two consecutive years. Also, Kakao was selected as one of Korea's top 20.

 

The ARC Awards that marked the 38th anniversary this year is the world’s largest annual report competition organized by the American communication evaluation agency Mercom Inc. Kakao won the gold medal which is the highest grade in the ESG report for the interactive annual report. Kakao has won the gold medal in the ESG report for two consecutive years as the only Korean company. Kakao's ESG report was evaluated to faithfully reflect the management status, CEO messages, financial information, etc., and to be excellent in accuracy, information accessibility, user convenience, creativity, design, etc.

 

Since 2021, Kakao has published a report on various ESG activities every year, and this year Kakao published its fourth report. The 2023 ESG report was composed of the following: introduction to Kakao; implementation of the ESG framework and in areas of focus; sustainable management by environment, society and governance; ESG data, etc. In particular, the following five areas of focus in ESG were reported in detail: technology for people; addressing social issues; trustworthy Kakao; tomorrow growing together; and efforts for the planet. Also, Kakao publishes the Kakao Stability Report to provide its services in a stable way, and endeavors to internalize and diffuse the value of diversity by publishing the Kakao Diversity Report for the first time in the industry.

 

Leader TW Kim of Kakao’s ESG management stated, "Kakao will continue to strengthen the ESG activities and do our utmost to clearly deliver the values and responsibilities that Kakao wants to provide for the society," adding “It is meaningful that the ESG report which is a communication channel with various stakeholders is evaluated highly.”

 

Moreover, Kakao is also recognized at home and abroad for its various sustainability efforts. Kakao has belonged to the top 1% in the “Corporate Sustainability Evaluation” conducted by S&P Global for two consecutive years, which is the only Korean company. Also, Kakao has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for three consecutive years. Kakao has also obtained, based on its efforts to actively respond to the climate change, “A” which is the highest grade in the carbon disclosure-related environmental assessment announced by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). [End]