SK Telecom (SKT) has been included in the 2026 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJ BIC) World Index, the company said Tuesday.
SKT said in a statement on its newsroom site that the index is used by investors as a benchmark because it evaluates companies’ economic, environmental and social performance. The DJSI World, launched in 1999 as a global ESG index, later expanded into regional and thematic indices as the assessment framework evolved.
DJ BIC is a revamped version of the former DJSI, reorganized in September 2025, and is published annually by S&P Global. SKT has been listed since its first inclusion in 2008, with the exception of 2020, the company said.
The World Index is the top tier, selecting only the top 10% by industry from about 2,500 companies worldwide by market capitalization. Among global telecom companies, Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia and Telus have previously been included, SKT said. It added that SKT was the only South Korean telecom company included this year.
SKT attributed the latest inclusion to companywide efforts including board-led accountability, ESG management across its supply chain, climate response measures and strengthened industrial safety and health. An SKT official called it the result of steadily advancing the company’s sustainability management system.
SKT said it strengthened governance, including recording a 100% board attendance rate in 2024, and expanded ESG inspections, training and consulting for partner companies. It also said it is pursuing a “2050 net-zero” strategy through its ESG committee and has built a carbon management system that includes improving power efficiency and shifting to renewable energy. In safety and health, it said it was named an excellent company for three consecutive years in a shared-growth cooperation program, reinforcing ESG execution.
Eom Jong-hwan, head of SK Telecom’s sustainability management office, said the company will continue to advance ESG management “to fulfill the responsibilities that come with being included in the DJ BIC World Index,” and will pursue sustainable growth with customers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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