70% of KOSPI-Listed Companies with Assets of 10–30 Trillion Won Say "ESG Disclosure by 2029 Is Feasible"

ESG Disclosure Readiness Survey of Listed Companies
66.7% of Manufacturers Call for Scope 3 Disclosure Deferral

It has been found that 70% of KOSPI-listed companies with assets between 10 trillion and 30 trillion won have completed preparations for ESG disclosure in line with the government's mandatory disclosure deadline in 2029. However, 66.7% of manufacturers say they will need a deferral beyond 2033 due to practical challenges.

The Korean Businessmen's Association (hereafter referred to as the Association) announced these findings on the 26th, based on its 'Corporate ESG Disclosure Readiness Survey' conducted among KOSPI-listed companies with total assets of at least 10 trillion won and less than 30 trillion won (responses from 27 out of 36 companies).

Yonhap News

This survey was conducted to assess the level of preparedness and challenges faced by companies that will become subject to mandatory ESG disclosure, following the government's announcement of its ESG disclosure roadmap last month. According to the results, 70.4% of respondent companies answered that they would be able to prepare for disclosure by the mandatory implementation deadline in 2029.

The Association explained, "Even among large companies, the level of preparedness varies depending on industry and size," adding, "Companies that lack robust data management systems for sustainability disclosures or sufficient experts may need more time to prepare."

More than half of all companies—55.6%—currently operate with dedicated ESG personnel handling other work responsibilities as well, in what is termed a 'concurrent position system.' In the manufacturing sector, this figure was even higher at 58.3%. This suggests that as ESG disclosure operations become more active, companies may face increased burdens regarding professional expertise and work efficiency.

Korean Business Association

Regarding 'Scope 3' disclosures—which include greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain—48.1% of respondents said they could meet the government's 2032 schedule, while 51.9% answered that they would only be able to comply after 2033. In particular, two out of three manufacturers (66.7%) responded that they would require a deferral. The primary obstacle cited was 'insufficient measurement capabilities and decreased data reliability among partners' (83.3%, multiple responses allowed).

The Association interpreted this as follows: "Given the high proportion of partner companies in the industrial structure, collecting and verifying accurate data from small and medium-sized partners requires significant cost and time." In addition, some partners are reluctant to provide data due to concerns over the possible leakage of trade secrets, which was also cited as a limiting factor in securing supply chain emissions information.

When asked about government policies needed for the stable implementation of the ESG disclosure system, companies mainly focused on 'providing detailed industry-specific guidelines (44.4%)' and 'establishing a standardized platform for data collection (44.4%)'.

Song Jaehyung, Head of the Sustainability Management Division at the Association, commented, "Companies are actively preparing for ESG disclosures," but also emphasized, "Proactive government support is necessary, particularly in securing expert personnel and measuring and obtaining supply chain emissions data." He added, "It will be important for the government to distribute standardized data platforms and set out detailed disclosure guidelines."

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