On December 13, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (President Choi Heung Jin) hosted the ‘2023 Green Management and Green Finance Excellence Awards’ at Conrad Seoul Hotel located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

The Ministry annually awards companies and institutions with significant contributions in three categories to promote green management and green finance. The categories include outstanding companies in green bond issuance (since 2021), excellent companies in environmental information disclosure (since 2013), and outstanding green companies (since 2011).

In the green bond issuance category for outstanding companies this year, the Ministry awarded the Environmental Minister’s Award to three entities, including Busan Transportation Corporation, GS Energy and ‘Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. The award was given for their active issuance of green bonds, application of green classification systems, and expansion of green investments. Additionally, Gwangmetal Co., Ltd. and RITCO Co., Ltd. each received the Director of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute Award.

In the environmental information disclosure category, five companies, including Kangwon Land Corporation, LOTTE Cultureworks, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, and KG Mobility, were honored with the Environmental Minister’s Award for serving as exemplary models in environmental management through proactive disclosure of environmental information. Additionally, Samsung SDS and DGB Financial Group each received the Director of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute Award.

In the outstanding green companies category that have contributed to carbon neutrality and effectively managed pollutants, LS Electric Busan Plant has been selected for the top award. The Grand Prize goes to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.-Han River Hydro Power Division-Chuncheon Power Plant, and the Excellence Prize is awarded to Korea Western Power Co., Ltd.-West Incheon Power Division. Each received the Environmental Minister’s Award for their significant contributions.

Son Ok-ju, the Director of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Environment, expressed, “We hope that this award ceremony can raise social awareness about green management and green finance and serve as an important catalyst for achieving carbon neutrality.”