The Korea Business Council for Sustainable Development (KBCSD) is a group of chief executive officers (CEOs) who pursue economic development, environmental preservation and social development in a harmonious manner. KBCSD, which has partnership relations with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), pursues global sustainable development, and seeks to disseminate it.

The global business management circumstances such as economic system, social structure and citizens' consciousness have been rapidly changed to a paradigm for sustainable development.

As for the organization of KBCSD, Hur Dong-soo, chairman & CEO of LG-Caltex Oil, is chairman; Kim Hi-yong, chairman of Tong Yang Moolsan; Hwang Doo-yul, vice chairman of SK Corporation, and Park Jae-young, president of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction are vice chairmen; and Moon Kook-hyun, CEO of Yuhan-Kimberly, is auditor. Members of its Steering Committee include Chang Hyung-duk, president of Kyobo Life Insurance; Woo Jong-il of Dongbu Hannong Chemical; Lee Jong-won, CEO of Lotte Chilsung Beverage; Lee Sang-bai, vice president of Samsusng Electronics; Park Chan-bup, CEO of Asiana Airlines; Shin Hyun-joo, president of LG Engineering and Construction Corporation; Jung Byung-chul, president of LG Electronics; Shin Joon-sang, president & CEO of LG-Caltex Gas; No Ki-ho, CEO of LG Chem; Won Dae-yun, president of Cheil Industries Inc.; Kim Joo-hyung, president of Cheil Jedang Corporation; Suh Kyung-bae, president & CEO of Amore Pacific; Lee Ku-tack, president of POSCO; and Sunwoo Young-suk, vice chairman of Hansol Paper. Three new members have recently joined KBCSD. They are Kang Ho-moon, CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics; Oh Chan-seok, managing partner of Young Wha Corporation, a member of Ernst & Young International; and Kim Dong-soo, CEO of Hankook Shell Oil.

Domestically, the national policy has been transformed in such a way as to integrate economy, society and environment. To facilitate it, the Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development (PCSD) was inaugurated in September 2000. The commission, chaired by Kang Moon-kyu, consists of 22 members from the private sector and 12 cabinet ministers.

WBCSD has proposed that an industrial organization be established in Korea to play a leading role in disseminating business management for sustainable development, and to resolve international issues regarding sustainable development in cooperation with WBCSD. "To meet the rapidly changing business circumstances to a paradigm for sustainable development, we inaugurated KBCSD as PCSD's counterpart in the industrial sector and Korean-side partner of WBCSD, which will lead the changes in the Korean industry," explained Lee In-Ryul, secretary-general of KBCSD. Lee concurrently heads the Industrial Research Division at the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), an alliance of large businesses.

KBCSD has three visions - contributing to the nation's sustainable development, realizing the environmental preservation and economic development, and maximizing the value of member companies.

The organization has set four goals for developing industrial strategies to resolve issues regarding sustainable development; encouraging businesses to implement business management for sustainable development; enhancing the eco-efficiency by helping member companies share the best practices; and building an image of businesses endeavoring for sustainable development. KBCSD's work programs for 2002 include holding a workshop on the best business management for sustainable development; publication of a white paper on business management for sustainable development; holding a discussion session on sustainable development to celebrate its founding anniversary; operation of the Working Group; consolidating partnership relations with WBCSD; and opening its Internet homepage.

KBCSD has the General Assembly, the highest decision-making body; the Steering Committee to deliberate work programs, operation and finance; the Working-level Committee to work out measures to cope with outstanding issues; the ad hoc Working Group to map out policies for sustainable development; the Advisory Committee; and the Secretariat. To effectively carry out its work programs, KBCSD plans to establish channels of dialogue with PCSD, the Ministry of Environment and the National Assembly, and cooperative relations with international organizations such as WBCSD, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). KBCSD, now an affiliate of the FKI, will be transformed into an independent organization in the future. Any businesses that are interested in national sustainable development and environment-oriented business management are eligible to join KBCSD. For more information, call 02-3771-0229.