Level Up Your Biz Korean: Talking SDGs & Corporate Strategy

Level Up Your Biz Korean: Talking SDGs & Corporate Strategy

Hello! Welcome back to Maeil Hangul, where we upgrade your Korean skills for the real world!

Today, we’re diving into a topic you’ll hear in boardrooms and business news across Seoul: corporate ethics and social responsibility. Specifically, we’ll learn how to discuss linking the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with corporate strategy. These days in Korea, a company’s commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is a massive factor in its reputation and success. Mastering this vocabulary will not only make you sound fluent but also incredibly well-informed and professional. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are four essential terms to navigate high-level business conversations about sustainability in Korean.

1. 지속가능개발목표 (Sustainable Development Goals)

• Korean Expression: 지속가능개발목표 (abbreviated as SDGs)
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jisok-ganeung-gaebal-mokpyo
• English Meaning: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Detailed Explanation: This is the official Korean term for the 17 global goals set by the United Nations. In a Korean business context, referencing the SDGs shows that you are thinking globally and are aware of long-term corporate responsibility. It’s a foundational term for any discussion on corporate social responsibility (CSR) or ESG strategy.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: This is a long word, so let’s break it down: 지속 (jisok) + 가능 (ganeung) + 개발 (gaebal) + 목표 (mokpyo). The key is the liaison (연음) between syllables. For example, in 개발 (gaebal), the ㅂ (b) sound at the end of 발 smoothly carries over when followed by a particle. In 목표 (mokpyo), the ㅍ (p) is an aspirated sound, so release a strong puff of air, making it sound more like “pyo” than “byo.”

2. 기업 전략과 연계하다 (To link with corporate strategy)

• Korean Expression: 기업 전략과 연계하다
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gieop jeollyak-gwa yeongyehada
• English Meaning: To link/align with corporate strategy
• Detailed Explanation: This is a sophisticated phrase perfect for formal reports and presentations. 연계하다 (yeongyehada) implies creating a deep, systematic integration, which is much stronger than simply 연결하다 (to connect). You use this to argue that SDGs shouldn’t be a side project, but a core, integrated part of the company’s main business strategy.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The particle 과 (gwa) is used after a word ending in a consonant, like 전략 (jeollyak). Practice the smooth transition from the final k sound of jeollyak into the gw sound. Also, in 연계 (yeongye), the ㄴ (n) sound is a clear nasal sound.

3. 사회적 가치 창출 (Creation of social value)

• Korean Expression: 사회적 가치 창출
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Sahoejeok gachi changchul
• English Meaning: Creation of social value
• Detailed Explanation: This concept is the heart of modern CSR. While companies traditionally focus on 이윤 창출 (creation of profit), 사회적 가치 창출 refers to the positive impact a company contributes to society. This includes everything from ethical labor practices and environmental protection to community investment. Using this phrase shows you understand the shift in corporate philosophy.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The sound of 치 in 가치 is a great example of palatalization. The letter is ㅌ (t), but when it’s followed by an ㅣ (i) vowel, it transforms into a ㅊ (ch) sound. So, instead of “ga-ti,” it’s pronounced [gachi]. Similarly, the ㅊ in 창출 (changchul) is a strong, aspirated consonant. Push a burst of air out as you say it!

4. 이해관계자 참여 (Stakeholder engagement)

• Korean Expression: 이해관계자 참여
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Ihae-gwangyeja chamyeo
• English Meaning: Stakeholder engagement
• Detailed Explanation: 이해관계자 (ihae-gwangyeja) refers to all stakeholders—not just shareholders, but also employees, customers, suppliers, and the local community. 참여 (chamyeo) means participation or engagement. This phrase is critical for explaining how a company should implement its SDG strategy: not by top-down orders, but through collaboration and communication with everyone involved.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The 관 in 관계자 (gwangyeja) can be tricky. Think of it as a quick “gwa” sound, similar to the start of “guava.” And just like with 창출, the ㅊ in 참여 (chamyeo) is aspirated. Practice making a clear distinction between ㅈ (j) and ㅊ (ch).

Example Dialogue

Here’s how these expressions might sound in a conversation between two colleagues, Min-jun (A) and Su-jin (B), after a strategy meeting.

A: 이번 분기 발표에서 우리 회사가 지속가능개발목표를 기업 전략과 연계하려는 노력이 아주 인상 깊었어요.
(A: In this quarter’s presentation, I was very impressed by our company’s efforts to link the Sustainable Development Goals with our corporate strategy.)

B: 맞아요. 단순히 이윤 추구를 넘어 사회적 가치 창출에 집중하는 모습이 전문적으로 보였어요. 특히 다양한 이해관계자 참여를 이끌어내는 방식이 체계적이더라고요.
(B: I agree. The focus on the creation of social value, moving beyond simple profit-seeking, looked very professional. The systematic way they induced stakeholder engagement was particularly well-structured.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea today, you can’t talk about business without mentioning ESG (환경·사회·지배구조 – Hwan-gyeong, Sahoe, Jibae-gujo). This isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a critical metric used by investors to evaluate a company’s long-term viability.

Major Korean conglomerates like Samsung, SK, and Hyundai now publish extensive annual sustainability reports. These reports are filled with the exact terminology we learned today, detailing how their corporate goals align with specific SDGs. For example, a tech company might focus on SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by developing green technology, framing it as both a business opportunity and a commitment to 사회적 가치 창출.

Knowing this vocabulary is your key to understanding the future direction of Korean business. If you use these terms in a job interview or a meeting, you will immediately signal that you are a serious, globally-minded professional.

Let’s Practice!

Time to put your knowledge to the test.

1. Fill in the Blank: A company that actively communicates with its employees, customers, and local community is prioritizing (_________).
   (Answer: 이해관계자 참여)

2. Make a Sentence: Imagine you work for a cosmetics company that has decided to use only recyclable packaging. How would you explain this new policy using at least two of today’s expressions?

Great job today! You’ve learned some incredibly powerful vocabulary for discussing business and ethics at a high level.

Now, it’s your turn! Try answering the second practice question in the comments below. I can’t wait to see your sentences!