By Nam Hyun-woo
Shinhan Financial Group said Wednesday that it has earned a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World for the fourth consecutive year, a feat no other Korean financial group has so far accomplished.
The DJSI World is a global index of the 2,500 largest global companies by market cap, assessing their corporate sustainability, environmental practices and financial outputs. Begun in 1999, the index is considered one of the leading indexes tracking sustainability-driven companies.
In this year’s announcement on Sept. 8, Shinhan Financial Group was named along with other leading financial groups such as BNP Paribas, Barclays and Westpac. The index removes companies that fail to show consistent progress.
The group attributed the feat to its stable corporate governance that helped the group to earn high scores in the categories of financial stability, ethical management and social contribution.
Shinhan Financial Group runs a social responsibility management committee under its board. The committee set up a nine-pronged corporate social responsibility (CSR) management strategy, which is comprised of measures for customer protection, risk control considering social and environmental factors, employee-friendly business culture, enhanced financial accessibility and eco-friendly activities.
“As Korea’s leading financial company, we will keep the company’s motto of financial business that benefits the world,” said a Shinhan Financial Group official. “The group will continue its efforts to create a virtuous cycle of co-prosperity between customers and society.”