SK Telecom (SKT) has once again underscored its position as one of Korea’s leading ESG companies by being included in the 2026 Dow Jones Best-in-Class (DJ BIC, formerly DJSI) World Index. The DJ BIC, renamed from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) in September 2025, is an annual sustainability benchmark published by S&P Global, the world’s largest financial information provider. Since its first inclusion in 2008, SKT has now maintained its place on the index for 17 years.
This latest recognition reflects company-wide efforts in sustainable management, including strengthening board-led accountability, enhancing ESG programs across the supply chain, revamping its climate governance system, and reinforcing occupational safety and health management. Building on this achievement, SKT Newsroom takes a closer look at what sustainable management means for the company and the direction it is charting as a global leader.
The Global Top 10% – the unparalleled standing of the DJ BIC World Index
The DJ BIC is widely used as a benchmark to assess how well global companies are managing sustainability and to guide responsible investment decisions. Each year, companies undergo a rigorous Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), which includes hundreds of questions. Rather than simply checking whether policies are in place, the assessment looks closely at concrete targets, actual implementation data, and the real-world impact of those efforts.
The DJ BIC World Index, in which SKT is included, evaluates around 2,500 of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization. Only the top 10% in each industry are selected based on sustainability performance, making it the highest-tier index. Among global telecommunications companies, only 7 telcos have made the World Index, and SKT is the only Korean telco included. This highlights SKT’s strong standing as a healthy company with high investment value in the global capital markets.
From the boardroom to the field: The ESG governance system built by SKT
The DJ BIC evaluates sustainability across a company’s governance and operational systems. SKT has is practicing board-led accountability to protect shareholder rights and enhance corporate value. The company recommends board attendance of over 75% and has achieved a 100% attendance rate across 17 board meetings in 2024 ensuring thorough oversight of key management issues. SKT also limits concurrent roles held by non-executive directors and external auditors and operates a range of specialized committees to strengthen decision-making, conducting regular evaluations of board and committee performance. This operational framework enables the board to go beyond a formal decision-making body and act as a central driver of responsible management that innovates operational efficiency.
This governance foundation has also strengthened ESG management across the supply chain. SKT has carried out in-depth assessments of potential ESG risks and completed immediate analysis and corrective measures for major risks. Furthermore, SKT has significantly expanded tailored training and consulting programs to help partner companies build their own ESG capabilities. These efforts contribute to greater supply chain stability and stronger business continuity.
Advanced ESG implementation with climate response and safety at the center
SKT’s governance-driven ESG strategy is being translated into tangible action in various areas such as climate response and health & safety. Moving beyond target-setting, the company is embedding ESG standards across its operations to ensure real execution.
Through the ESG Committee within its board, SKT is driving its “2050 Net Zero” strategy. Recognizing that most emissions come from electricity use, the company has focused on improving energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable energy. Alongside reducing energy consumption, SKT is increasing its use of power purchase agreements (PPAs) to directly source renewable energy from generators, turning its emissions reduction goals into concrete action. In addition, SKT included indirect emissions (Scope 3) in its emissions management, establishing a climate response framework that covers its entire value chain.
Sustainable management ultimately comes down to safety on the ground. SKT has demonstrated its leadership in this area by earning top recognition for the third consecutive year in the “Safety and Health Mutual Cooperation Program between Large and Small Enterprises” organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The company provides tailored, practical training for partner companies, covering areas such as on-site risk assessment improvements and safety protocols for high-risk tasks. SKT also offers consulting support to partners aiming to obtain certification under the ISO occupational health and safety management system or to improve their Safety & Health (SH) evaluation ratings.
Um Jong-hwan, head of SKT’s Sustainability Management Office, said, “Having been included in the DJ BIC World Index for so many years, we will continue to advance our sustainable management efforts to meet the expectations of both internal and external stakeholders. We aim to lead the way in creating sustainable growth together with our customers.” This achievement reflects SKT’s consistent efforts to strengthen its sustainability framework. Building on its record of 17 inclusions, the company plans to continue raising the bar for ESG management going forward.
