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Shared Growth of Business and Community Through Rural ESG Practices
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Date
2026.01.29.
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Hit
70
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Shared Growth of Business and Community Through Rural ESG Practices
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The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Acting Minister Kim Seong-beom), Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA; Minister Song Mi-ryung), and Korea Foundation for Cooperation of Large & Small Business (KOFCA), Rural Affairs, announced the selection of 68 companies and institutions (17 private-sector enterprises and 51 public institutions) that actively participated in rural ESG* practices and win-win cooperation in 2025.
* ESG: A management framework that emphasizes environmental protection, social responsibility, and governance
<Results of Recognition of Rural ESG Practices>
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Category
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Recognized Companies and Institutions (68 entities)
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Private-sector enterprises
(17 EA) |
HD Hyundai Samho, Nongshim, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, Daesang Corporation, Lotte Mart, Lotte Welfood, Lotte Chemical, Lotte Home Shopping, Suhyup Bank, NS Shopping, E-Mart, POSCO Steelion, POSCO E&C, Hyundai Autoever, Hyosung Heavy Industries, Hyosung TNC, and Hyosung Chemical
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Public institutions
(51 EA) |
Kangwon Land, Korea National Park Services, National Institute of Ecology, National Ocean Science Museum (Uljin), National Marine Biological Resources Institute, Honam National Institute of Biological Resources, National Health Insurance Service, Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry, Agricultural Policy Insurance & Finance Service, KOTRA, Donghae City Facilities Management Corporation, Busan Port Authority, Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, Yeoncheon County Facilities Management Corporation, Yeongcheon City Facilities Management Corporation, Ulsan Port Authority, Incheon Port Authority, Jeju Tourism Organization, SR Co., Ltd., Korea Institute of Start-up and Entrepreneurship Development, Pocheon Urban Corporation, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, Korea Transportation Safety Authority, Korea South-East Power, Korea Southern Power, Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, Korea Rural Community Corporation, Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency, Korea East-West Power, Korea Racing Authority, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Korea Forest Welfare Institute, Korea Western Power, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Public Agency, Korea Forestry Promotion Agency, Korea Power Exchange, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Electric Power Engineering & Construction, Korea Midland Power, Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, Korea Environment Corporation, Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, KEPCO KDN, Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation
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To promote the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries, and rural areas and to revitalize the Rural Shared Cooperation Fund by identifying and disseminating examples of mutual cooperation between companies/institutions and agricultural, fishery, and rural sectors, the Rural ESG Recognition System was initiated as a pilot program in 2022 by the Korea Foundation for Cooperation of Large & Small Business, Rural Affairs.
The system was expanded and restructured in 2024, including improvements to the evaluation criteria and integration into a similar program, the Rural Social Contribution Certification System. It is now jointly implemented by MOF, MAFRA, and KOFCA.
Applications were accepted from August 20 to September 19, 2025 for companies and institutions actively engaged in rural shared cooperation projects. From September 25 to November 10, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted based on 33 indicators across 3 areas: environment, society, and governance. Following deliberation by the Rural ESG Deliberation Committee within KOFCA, the Rural Mutual Growth Fund Operation Committee made the final selections on December 18. The number of recognized entities increased by 30% from the previous year to 16 organizations (4 private, 12 public).
Number of enterprises recognized for rural ESG practice: (Pilot program in 2022) 23 enterprises (4 private and 19 public) → (Pilot program in 2023) 41 enterprises (10 private and 31 public) → (2024) 52 enterprises (13 private and 39 public) → (2025) 68 enterprises (17 private and 51 public)
Among them, Lotte Chemical was recognized as an excellent example in the Social (S) category for purchasing approximately KRW 500 million worth of rice and donating it to local welfare organizations, sister villages, and volunteer groups. Moreover, it was highly evaluated in the Governance (G) category for its detailed public disclosure of annual rural support and cooperation plans and outcomes through its sustainability report and corporate website.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority was recognized as an excellent case in the Environmental (E) category for its Gimcheon Eco-Friendly Pledge campaign, which measured fine dust and greenhouse gas levels in the Gimcheon region and conducted educational programs and idea workshops to reduce them; thus training local residents to serve as agents of environmental problem-solving. It also received high marks in the Social (S) category for establishing and operating a youth education shelter, contributing to the stable growth and development of local youth.
Rural ESG practice-recognized companies and institutions receive various benefits including certification plaque, preferential treatment in the Mutual Growth Index evaluation, rural ESG consulting support, promotion of exemplary cases, and preferential consideration in government policy support selections.
According to Director Hwang Jun-seong of MOF's Fisheries Policy Division and Director Kim Young-soo of MAFRA's Rural Policy Division, interest in this system is growing each year with the number of Rural ESG Practice Recognized Companies increasing from 52 last year to 68 this year. "In 2026, we will actively identify exemplary models of shared cooperation and ESG practices between companies and rural areas through this system, promote linked projects, and lead the expansion of corporate ESG management in rural communities," they added.
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