Jun Kim, SK Innovation President, "Let's Overcome the Crisis with the Spirit of Hosiu-bo (虎視牛步)"

Delivery of Shoes Made by Social Enterprise to Former Executives

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] "Let us think together of 'Hosiubo,' which means moving forward steadfastly like an ox with the eyes of a tiger, and overcome any adversity to create a happy future. Let's run together. Toward a happier future."

This was emphasized by Kim Jun, President of SK Innovation, while delivering shoes made by a social enterprise to all executives of SK Innovation affiliates.

President Kim delivered shoes embodying the spirit of Hosiubo (虎視牛步) to all executives of SK Innovation affiliates, meaning "let's run ahead together to overcome the crisis." This happened at the beginning of the new year. The shoes delivered by President Kim to the executives were sneakers made from discarded automotive leather by the social enterprise "More Than."

Hosiubo means "to look sharply and fearfully like a tiger and act cautiously like an ox," referring to having keen insight and acting sincerely and prudently.

In his New Year's address, President Kim emphasized, "There is no more time to delay sustainable growth, so we will create a 'New SK Innovation' through comprehensive and holistic change," and pledged, "We will lead the difficult and challenging journey of change."

While delivering the shoes, President Kim urged that 2021 is a year with the major task of fundamentally escaping fatal survival threats, and that leaders armed with the spirit of Hosiubo must take the lead to drive comprehensive change. This can be interpreted as a call to overcome the crisis and run toward a happier future. It carries a message to run together this year to complete Green Balance 2030 through eco-friendly social enterprise products.

So far, SK Innovation has actively supported social enterprises and social ventures, fostering an eco-friendly social economy ecosystem. This is part of SK Innovation's ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) management strategy, aiming to grow together with social enterprises while pursuing both environmental and social values simultaneously.

Therefore, President Kim is called an ESG evangelist. The sneakers made by the social enterprise "More Than," supported and nurtured by SK Innovation, use durable automotive seat leather, significantly reducing energy, water, and carbon dioxide emissions generated in the manufacturing process of new leather products, thus providing high environmental value.

Meanwhile, the calligraphy artwork of "Hosiubo" delivered along with the shoes was created by artist Seok Chang-woo, who received prosthetic arm support through SK Innovation's "1% Happiness Sharing" fund in 2018. The artwork, expressing wishes for the company's development and the happiness of its members, added greater significance. The "1% Happiness Sharing" fund was established by SK Innovation employees voluntarily donating 1% of their monthly base salary, matched by the company, and is used to create social value and spread happiness.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.