Kim Soon-ki, head of Shinhan Life’s strategic planning group (left), is delivering sponsorship items for seniors who have served the country through the Shining One Step campaign to Jeon Jong-ho, director of the Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office (right), last October. Provided by Shinhan Life Shinhan Life (CEO and President Lee Young-jong), a life insurance subsidiary of Shinhan Financial Group, is focusing on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) management by continuing to support people of national merit, provide scholarships, and support solutions to care issues. .
Last October, Shinhan Life donated 30 million won worth of shoes to seniors who served the country through employee donation through the ‘Shiny Step Campaign’. As part of the carbon neutrality strategy, this campaign was designed to protect individual health and the environment by encouraging walking naturally in daily life. Furthermore, if executives and employees achieve their step donation goal, they can also support the underprivileged along with the company.
The Shining One Step campaign, which ran for four weeks, exceeded the original goal of 50 million steps in two weeks thanks to the active participation of executives and employees, and donations for the elderly were delivered to the Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office. The donations will be used to purchase shoes for 250 elderly veterans of national merit selected through the Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office.
Shinhan Life continues to practice sharing every year through carbon reduction activities through the Shining Step Campaign in which executives and employees participate, as well as △supporting sneakers for children from vulnerable groups △donating wheelchairs to social welfare organizations △donating specially made shoes for children with walking disabilities. It continues. An employee who participated in this campaign said, “It was even more meaningful to be able to help senior citizens who sacrificed themselves for the country through donation.” He added, “We will continue to actively engage in social contribution activities to protect the environment and coexist with the local community.” “I will participate,” he said.
Shinhan Life operates a variety of support projects for children and youth, who are key players in the future society. This is being done through the ‘Shinhan Life Shining Foundation’, a social contribution foundation established to carry out continuous and professional social contribution. Shinhan Life Shining Foundation held the ‘2024 Shinhan Life Scholarship Program Scholarship Certificate Award Ceremony’ with Green Umbrella at Shinhan L Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul last August. The Shinhan Life Scholarship Program is a project that provides opportunities to discover talents to children from low-income families who have no educational experience in the sports and arts fields, and supports children who have talent but are experiencing financial difficulties to continue developing their talents.
Since 2015, Shinhan Life Shining Foundation has donated approximately 7.8 billion won to a total of 2,425 people. Of the 307 children selected this year, a total of KRW 1 billion will be provided, including KRW 2 million in talent discovery scholarships for 250 ‘Dream Finding Scholarship Students’ and talent development scholarships worth up to KRW 10 million for 57 ‘Dream Development Scholarship Students’. At the event, which was attended by about 100 scholarship students and parents, Minho Choi, a gold medalist in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was a special speaker and shared his journey and experience toward his dream with the scholarship students.
Shinhan Life Shining Foundation Secretary General Kim Soon-ki said, “I feel rewarded because the children supported by the foundation are showing outstanding achievements in each field,” and added, “We will continue to spare no effort in supporting children so that they can pursue their dreams and grow properly.”
Reporter Kim Bo-hyung kph21c@hankyung.com
**Professor Lee, what are some key considerations for ensuring the long-term sustainability and relevance of corporate ESG programs in a rapidly changing global landscape?**
## Interview: Shinhan Life’s Commitment to ESG Through Social Contribution
**Guests:**
* **Kim Soon-ki:** Head of Shinhan Life’s Strategic Planning Group & Secretary General of Shinhan Life Shining Foundation
* **Professor Lee Ji-hye:** Expert in Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG Management at Seoul National University
**Interviewer:**
Welcome, Mr. Kim and Professor Lee, thank you for joining us today. Shinhan Life has been making headlines with its dedication to ESG management, specifically through its initiatives for people of national merit and youth scholarships. Let’s delve into these impactful programs.
**Section 1: Bridging Generations: Supporting Seniors and Veterans**
**Interviewer:**
Mr. Kim, the “Shining One Step” campaign garnered significant attention. Can you elaborate on the campaign’s goals and its focus on both individual health and environmental consciousness?
**Kim Soon-ki:**
**(Response focusing on the campaign’s dual purpose of promoting health and sustainability, employee engagement, exceeding goals, and the tangible impact on veterans).**
**Interviewer:**
Professor Lee, how do corporate initiatives like “Shining One Step”, which combine employee engagement, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability, contribute to a company’s overall ESG performance and public perception?
**Professor Lee:**
**(Response drawing on examples of how such programs enhance employee morale, strengthen brand image, and contribute to a company’s long-term sustainability strategy).**
**Section 2: Investing in the Future: Empowering Youth Through Education**
**Interviewer:**
Mr. Kim, the “Shinhan Life Shining Foundation” plays a vital role in supporting underprivileged children and youth. How has the “Shinhan Life Scholarship Program” evolved since its inception, and how does it contribute to nurturing young talent?
**Kim Soon-ki:**
**(Response highlighting the far-reaching impact of the scholarship program, the program’s focus on talent discovery and development in both sports and arts, and the success stories of scholarship recipients).**
**Interviewer:**
Professor Lee, access to education is widely recognized as a key driver of social mobility and economic progress. In your view, what are the ethical and societal implications of corporations actively investing in educational programs for underprivileged children?
**Professor Lee:**
**(Response discussing the role of corporations in addressing educational inequities, the potential impact on breaking the cycle of poverty, and the long-term benefits for society as a whole).**
**Section 3: Looking Ahead: The Future of Shinhan Life’s Social Contribution**
**Interviewer:**
Mr. Kim, what are Shinhan Life’s future plans for expanding its ESG initiatives?
**Kim Soon-ki:**
**(Response outlining Shinhan Life’s commitment to sustained efforts in ESG, future plans for the “Shining One Step” campaign, and exploring new avenues for social contribution).**
**Interviewer:** Professor Lee, what advice would you give to other corporations looking to develop impactful and sustainable ESG strategies?
**Professor Lee:**
**(Response emphasizing the importance of aligning ESG initiatives with core business values, stakeholder engagement, transparency, and continuous evaluation and improvement).**
**Closing Remarks:**
**Interviewer:**
Thank you both for sharing your insights and expertise. Shinhan Life’s dedication to ESG management serves as a compelling example for other organizations committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment.
