Gwangju Bank Employees Campaign for Public Transportation Use to Commemorate 'World Environment Day'

Participation in ESG Management Practices and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Campaign

Song Jong-wook, President of Gwangju Bank, is boarding a city bus to go to work. Photo by Gwangju Bank

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Employees of Gwangju Bank are attracting attention by using public transportation on their way to work in celebration of 'World Environment Day.'

On the 4th, Gwangju Bank announced that employees, including Bank President Song Jong-wook, conducted a campaign to promote the use of public transportation.

This campaign was launched to participate in ESG management practices and greenhouse gas reduction efforts in honor of 'World Environment Day (June 5th).'

President Song of Gwangju Bank took the lead by voluntarily commuting using city buses, rolling up his sleeves to activate the campaign, encouraging employees to actively participate through his example, and after getting off, he engaged in volunteer activities collecting trash around the headquarters area.

Employees shared certification photos after using public transportation, and outstanding participating branches were rewarded with essential environmental protection items such as tumblers and eco-bags, reflecting on the significance of 'World Environment Day.'

President Song said, "With the sense of mission as the representative bank of Gwangju and Jeonnam, I hope the positive impact of Gwangju Bank's ESG management, which all employees are striving to practice, spreads throughout the local community," adding, "To leap forward as a sustainable 100-year bank, we will strengthen corporate social responsibility in line with ESG management and grow together with the region."

Meanwhile, based on the ESG management philosophy, Gwangju Bank established an ESG team in April to focus on inclusive finance and productive finance, officially embarking on ESG management. An ESG Promotion Committee, a specialized consultative body for efficient and systematic implementation, was also established.

Following President Song’s management philosophy of 'coexistence with the region and companionship with local residents' and 'pursuit of value beyond profit,' the bank takes interest in and participates in solving problems in various fields such as the local economy, society, and culture. Through this, it leads the spread of green finance and inclusive finance.

Volunteer activities such as the Gwangju Stream relay volunteer work, one institution/organization one cleanliness zone in Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, campaigns to reduce disposable cup usage, annual selection and awarding of social contribution awards to motivate local love and volunteerism, and the hosting of the 'Green Environment Awards' to discover environmental guardians responsible for the local environment are various environmental protection activities by Gwangju Bank to spread a green breeze in the community.

Additionally, by signing the 'Coal Phase-out & Green New Deal Agreement' with Gwangju Metropolitan City, the bank actively cooperates with city policies by not participating in project financing or bond underwriting for coal-fired power plant construction and evaluates corporate loans centered on ESG.

Moreover, the bank sells K-Green credit and check cards, financial products that promote environmental love by providing carbon points (Eco Money) when practicing energy saving and purchasing green products.

Financial support for small business owners and self-employed individuals affected by COVID-19, financial adjustment counseling and management consulting at the Gwangju Bank Inclusive Finance Center, and the launch of the 'Prime Plus Loan' reflecting the financial needs of medium- and low-credit customers who are not included in the first-tier financial sector provide timely financial prescriptions to local residents and customers in need, practicing inclusive finance.

A Gwangju Bank official said, "We will further deepen the ongoing ESG management strategy, accelerate investment in eco-friendly sectors, and develop ESG financial products to leap forward as an ESG leading bank."

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