“국민연금공단은 국내 기업 투자 시 지배구조뿐 아니라 환경·사회적 책임 이행 여부를 중점적으로 볼 것이다.” 김용진 국민연금공단 이사장은 28일 서울 포시즌스 호텔에서 열린 ‘2021 코리아헤럴드 금융투자포럼’ 기조연설에서 이 같이 밝혔다. 김 이사장은 기업과의 소통을 통해 그들의 ESG 경영을 활성화 시킬 것이라는 점도 분명히 했다. 그는 “국민연금은 연금의 ESG 책임투자활동 방향을 기업들에게 투명하게 공개하고 이를 바탕으로 ESG 투자가 우리 사회에 성공적으로 뿌리내리도록 할 것”이라고 말했다. 김 이사장은 국민연금의 네 가지 ESG 책임투자 활성화 전략도 공개했다. 첫 번째 방안은 국내 주식 일부 등 일부 자산에만 제한적, 소극적으로 적용되던 ESG 책임투자를 장기적으로 기금 전체 자산군에 적용하는 것이다. 김 이사장은 “ESG 요소를 재무 분석 과정에 융합시키는 ES

“세계 경제가 포스트 코로나 시대에 발맞춰 환경·사회·지배구조(ESG) 대전환을 이루고 있는 가운데, 한국 정부 역시 규제가 아닌 지원의 관점에서 ESG 정책을 추진해 지속가능한 성장 기반을 더욱 공고히 할 것이다.” 　 홍남기 경제부총리 겸 기획재정부 장관은 28일 서울 포시즌스 호텔에서 ‘한국의 ESG 혁명: 팬데믹 이후의 그린슈트’를 주제로 열린 ‘2021 코리아헤럴드 금융투자포럼’에서 축사 영상을 통해 이 같이 밝혔다. 　 홍 장관은 코로나19(신종 코로나바이러스 감염증) 위기로 인해 전세계에서 기후변화, 취약계층에 대한 고용 · 사회안전망 부족 등 소위 ‘회색 코뿔소’로 불리던 문제들이 경제 성장에 직접적인 장애 요인이 된다는 것을 깨닫는 계기가 됐다고 말했다. 　 그는 “각국 정부와 시장에서 ESG를 핵심 가치로 삼고 지속가능성과 회복력을

The amount of parked money that can be withdrawn any time has surged to an all-time high, data showed Sunday. According to the Bank of Korea, the amount of demand deposit increased by 3.3 trillion won ($2.8 billion) to some 388.7 trillion won as of July. It is the largest amount since the central bank started to collect related data. Market experts suggested that extra cash ready for new investments has few places to go because of the government’s intensifying regulatory moves on the pr

K-pop fans have found a new way to support their favorite idols that could also fatten their wallets at the same time. A growing number of fans are experimenting with new investment methods by investing in shares of copyrights to songs by idols. This new combination of Korean culture and investing comes as K-pop fans seek alternative and meaningful ways to show support for their stars.  For instance, Music Cow, a platform for investing in K-pop songs, allows fans to buy shares to own par

Rich people living outside the Seoul area are rushing to buy apartments in the capital city to secure real estate as a means for stable investment, data showed Tuesday. According to the Korea Real Estate Board, the number of apartments bought by people residing outside of Seoul accounted for 25.3 percent of the total 131,996 apartments purchased in the city as of July. Compared to 19.7 percent in July 2017, the purchasing spree of cash-rich non-Seoul residents has accelerated, market insiders

South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb said it has joined hands with Bucket Studio, a local mobile content provider, to launch a commerce platform where customers can purchase products and services in bithumb cash. By incorporating Bithumb’s blockchain payment technology, the commerce platform, named Bithumb Live, will serve as a new online marketplace. Customers will watch a live show promoting a product -- similar to TV homeshopping -- and pay with its currency, bithumb cash, later on, o

The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit said Sunday that it was looking closely at cryptocurrency exchanges on the verge of shutting down. The unit is under the Financial Services Commission, the country’s financial regulator. The regulator, in cooperation with the police and financial institutions, aims to prevent those exchanges from walking away with users’ money parked in their accounts. Any exchanges that fail to register with the FSC by Sept. 24 must inform users by Friday th

Standard Chartered Bank Korea has named Lee Eun-hyung, former journalist and ex-spokesperson of the Trade Ministry, as the new chair of its board, the lender said Thursday. Lee replaced Oh Jong-nam, a former adviser at local law firm Kim & Chang who was the board chair for three years. Lee’s term as the board chair ends Sept. 2022. She is the first female chair of the board, the bank said, noting that the decision was to reflect the growing demand for gender diversity in the boardro

If South Korea passes a carbon tax bill in line with global standards, local companies, particularly those in heavy industries that emit high levels of carbon dioxide, may face between 7.3 trillion won ($6.26 billion) and 36.3 trillion won in additional taxes, a local credit rating agency said Wednesday. The carbon tax bill is currently pending in the parliament. The financial costs will be even higher with the implementation of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, sa

Industrial Bank of Korea said Wednesday it signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Small and Medium Sized Bank through a videoconference, in a bid to share IBK’s knowledge and expertise in financial support for small companies. Under the agreement, IBK will help Saudi SME Bank in developing a credit loan system and products, business strategies, risk management measures and IT and computer systems. IBK will also form a taskforce with working-level staff to directly communicate a

Global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said Tuesday that it would maintain South Korea’s credit rating and keep the economic growth projection positive, citing economic resilience, despite the latest wave of the pandemic hitting the country. During a webinar on assessing regional outlooks, Jeremy Zook, director at Fitch Ratings, expected the credit rating for Asia’s fourth-largest economy to remain intact from its July projection of AA-, the fourth-highest level of the agency’s

Toss Bank will expand its loan services to thin filers with little credit history or borrowers with low credits through its advanced credit assessment system while delaying its official launch to next month, officials said Monday. The internet-only lender was expected to start business late this month after receiving the green light from the country’s financial regulator. But due to the bank’s last-minute schedule rearrangements, it will begin its operation starting the first week

Ahn Jung-hyun, a 32-year-old worker at an insurance company, knows her salary, 65 million won ($55,370) a year, is well above average. But during her intermittent break time, she never stops making a little extra. Instead of playing mobile games or watching Netflix, Ahn clicks on a number of apps that offer actual money or discount coupons as marketing rewards -- and every little helps. Ahn is one of growing number of Koreans in search of extra income through money making apps. A mobile ped

Amid controversial regulatory efforts being made to keep cryptocurrency trading in order, Upbit appears to have solidified its leadership in the market. Upbit retained its title as South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in terms of cash parked, and the number of subscribers and transactions, data showed Sunday. According to the data from Rep. Yoon Do-hyun of the People Power Party, a member of National Policy Committee, Upbit had 5.3 trillion won ($4.5 million) deposited its acc

 Among central Seoul’s gray concrete buildings, lies a 450-meter road lined with walls plastered with pictures of eccentric comic characters from stories that mesmerized Koreans for decades. 　Painted in vibrant colors, the walls on Zaemiro, meaning fun street, bring life to Korean comic characters that later become inspirations to many K-dramas. 　In the first section, visitors are welcomed by the characters from “The Palace,” a popular teen romance cartoon-turned-drama