Press Releases

KoSIF Dispatches 'ESG, Climate, and Renewable Energy Policy Questionnaire' to
Presidential Candidates

- 7 Core Policy Enquiries Include the ESG Framework Act, Climate Risk Financial Supervision, and the Establishment of a Green Finance Corporation

- Urgent Need to Formulate ESG Legal and Policy Frameworks Aligned with South Korea's Export-Dependent Economic Structure

The Korea Sustainability Investing Forum (KoSIF, Chairperson Young-ho Kim) has publicly dispatched a policy questionnaire to presidential candidates ahead of the 21st presidential election, inquiring about their stances and implementation blueprints for advancing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and climate policies. KoSIF stated, "We have forwarded the 'ESG, Climate, and Renewable Energy Policy Questionnaire' to the presidential candidates of major political parties represented in the National Assembly—including the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party, the Progressive Party, and the Reform New Party—and plan to analyze and disclose their responses in the near future."

As intertwined crises such as the climate emergency, social inequality, and structural economic transitions accelerate, the demand for comprehensive "sustainability" policies has intensified. This is particularly vital as ESG consolidates into a core baseline standard across global supply chains and capital markets, making the deployment of legal and policy infrastructure an urgent institutional priority.

KoSIF diagnosed the current landscape:

"The global economic order is being radically restructured around sustainability themes like climate, ecology, labor, and human rights, with even the United States strategically leveraging ESG issues within its 'domestic-first' doctrine. Conversely, South Korea's ESG statutory frameworks and policy infrastructure remain insufficient, leaving markets burdened by high institutional uncertainty. For an economy heavily dependent on exports, responding proactively to these issues is directly linked to safeguarding national economic security. We must establish robust legal and policy foundations to enhance our long-term sustainability capabilities."

KoSIF is a non-profit organization that has spearheaded the institutionalization of ESG since 2007. During every major election cycle, including presidential and general elections, the forum has systematically queried candidates and political parties on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), and ESG frameworks.

Key Questionnaire Items: The 7 Structural Pillars

The questionnaire focuses on 7 critical legislative and regulatory frameworks selected after gathering extensive input from corporations, financial institutions, and civil society to enhance the global ESG competitiveness of domestic industries:

⦁ Enactment of an ESG Framework Act: Baseline stance and concrete implementation plans.

⦁ Accelerated Roadmap for Mandatory Sustainability Disclosures: Concrete timelines to mandate standard ESG reporting.

⦁ Reforming the Stewardship Code: Enhancing fiduciary duties and institutional accountability regarding climate risk.

⦁ Integrating Climate Risk into Financial Asset Soundness Evaluations: Issuing official supervisory guidelines for private financial institutions.

⦁ Net-Zero Transition Portfolios for Public Financial Institutions: Decarbonization plans and financed emission targets for public funds.

⦁ Establishment of a Dedicated Green Finance Corporation: Enhancing public-backed green underwriting and investment.

⦁ Introducing a Planned Siting System Dedicated to PPAs: Overcoming regulatory bottlenecks to optimize corporate renewable energy procurement.

KoSIF requested each candidate to provide a definitive "agree" or "disagree" stance on these frameworks. If in agreement, candidates must specify their implementation methodologies and target timelines; if opposed, they must state their reasoning and propose viable alternative policy solutions.

Jong-oh Lee, CIO of KoSIF, emphasized:

"This presidential policy questionnaire serves as a critical litmus test to assess each candidate's fundamental sustainability philosophy, vision, and practical commitment to boosting the international competitiveness of our corporations and financial institutions. Moving forward, we intend to consolidate, evaluate, and publicly release each candidate's official position and timeline—partially through hosting dedicated policy forums—to provide voters with transparent, high-utility insights ahead of the election."

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 Inquiries: Jong-O Lee CIO (argos68@kosif.org), Dajeong Kim  Senior Researcher (kimdj@kosif.org)