Beyond Profits: Decoding Korean Corporate Ethics & ESG
Hello! It’s your favorite Korean booster, Daily Korean, here to upgrade your language skills!
Today, we’re diving into a topic you’ll frequently encounter in Korean news, business meetings, and academic discussions: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This isn’t just about business jargon; it’s about understanding the very fabric of modern Korean society. Lately in Korea, there’s a huge surge in “value-based consumption” (가치 소비), especially among younger generations. Consumers are actively choosing brands that align with their ethical standards. Mastering today’s vocabulary will not only make you sound like a pro in formal settings but also help you understand the powerful social dynamics shaping the Korean market today.
Let’s get started!
Core Expressions for Your Business Toolkit
Here are the essential terms you need to discuss corporate ethics like a native speaker.
1. 기업의 사회적 책임 (Gieob-ui Sahoe-jeok Chaeg-im)
- Pronunciation: [Gi-eob-ui Sa-hoe-jeok Chaek-im]
- English Meaning: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Detailed Explanation: This is the foundational, formal term for CSR. It refers to a company’s responsibility to contribute positively to society, encompassing ethical practices, environmental protection, and community support. It’s a standard term used in official reports, academic papers, and news articles. While universally understood, it sometimes carries the nuance of more traditional, philanthropic activities like donations.
2. 지속가능경영 (Jisok-ganeung-gyeong-yeong)
- Pronunciation: [Ji-sok-ga-neung-gyeong-yeong]
- English Meaning: Sustainable Management
- Detailed Explanation: This term is a major buzzword in Korea right now and is closely linked to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). While CSR can sometimes imply separate charitable acts,
지속가능경영suggests that ethical and social considerations are integrated into the core business strategy for long-term survival and success. It’s a more modern, holistic concept that emphasizes creating a business model that is viable and beneficial for all stakeholders indefinitely.
3. 공유가치창출 (Gong-yu-gachi-changchul)
- Pronunciation: [Gong-yu-ga-chi-chang-chul]
- English Meaning: Creating Shared Value (CSV)
- Detailed Explanation: This is a specific strategic model that contrasts with traditional CSR. The core idea of CSV is that a company can generate economic value in a way that also produces value for society by addressing its needs and challenges. For example, a food company developing nutritious, affordable products for low-income communities isn’t just doing charity; it’s opening a new market while solving a social problem. It’s about finding the overlap between social and economic progress.
4. ~에 방점을 두다 (~e Bangjeom-eul Duda)
- Pronunciation: [~eh Bang-jeom-eul Du-da]
- English Meaning: To place emphasis on…; To focus on…
- Detailed Explanation: This is a sophisticated and highly useful verb phrase for making comparisons.
방점literally means a ‘dot’ or ‘period’ used for emphasis when reading classical texts. In modern usage, it means “the point of emphasis.” You can use it to clearly articulate what a company’s strategy prioritizes.- Example: “그 회사는 환경 보호에 방점을 두고 있다.” (That company places its emphasis on environmental protection.)
Example Dialogue: At the Office
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation between two colleagues, Min-jun and Se-yeon.
A (민준): 이번 분기 보고서 봤어요? 우리 회사가 이제 단순 기부를 넘어 지속가능경영으로 전환하는 데 방점을 두고 있는 것 같아요.
(Min-jun: Have you seen this quarter’s report? It seems our company is now placing its emphasis on transitioning to sustainable management, moving beyond simple donations.)
B (서연): 맞아요. 예전에는 전형적인 기업의 사회적 책임 활동에 그쳤는데, 이제는 사업 모델 자체를 바꾸려는 거죠. 일종의 공유가치창출을 목표로 하는 것 같아요.
(Se-yeon: Exactly. In the past, we were limited to typical CSR activities, but now the goal is to change the business model itself. It looks like they’re aiming for a kind of Creating Shared Value.)
A (민준): 네. 그게 요즘 소비자 트렌드에도 맞고요. ESG 평가가 좋은 기업의 제품을 일부러 구매하는 사람들도 많아졌잖아요.
(Min-jun: Yes. And that fits with recent consumer trends, too. The number of people who intentionally buy products from companies with high ESG ratings has grown a lot.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive: The Power of “Value-Based Consumption”
To truly understand the context of CSR in Korea
