The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will jointly select companies and institutions that have contributed to rural areas and agriculture through ESG activities such as rural cooperation and social contribution. Starting this year, the evaluation system will shift from merely confirming participation in related activities to assessing the actual level and outcomes of these activities.
On September 17, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Foundation for Cooperation between Large and Small Enterprises and Agriculture announced the recruitment and selection of recognized companies and institutions for the 2026 Rural Environment, Society, and Governance (ESG) Practice System.
The Rural ESG Practice System comprehensively evaluates the rural cooperation and social contribution activities performed by companies and institutions, recognizing outstanding entities. Since its introduction in 2022, the number of recognized companies and institutions has steadily increased, from 23 in 2022 to 41 in 2023, 52 in 2024, and 68 last year. Among the recognized entities last year, 17 were private companies and 51 were public institutions.
This year, to enhance the effectiveness of the evaluation, the diagnostic indicators have been revised. The previous 33 indicators across the three areas of environment, society, and governance have been consolidated into 30, and the indicators that only confirmed activity participation have been reduced from 15 to 5. This change aims to better reflect the extent to which companies and institutions contribute to rural areas and agriculture in the evaluation.
The evaluation will allocate 25 points to 6 environmental indicators, 50 points to 16 social indicators, and 25 points to 8 governance indicators. The environmental section will assess efforts to establish plans considering eco-friendly activities related to rural areas and local environmental issues. The social section will examine support and cooperative activities targeting rural communities, including farmers, local governments, and regional businesses. The governance section will evaluate the presence of dedicated organizations and personnel for supporting and cooperating with rural areas.
The total score will be 110 points. A maximum of 10 bonus points will be added based on contributions to the Rural Cooperation Fund to the diagnostic score out of 100. Companies and institutions that achieve a score of 80 or above will be officially recognized.
Recognized companies and institutions will receive a certificate along with awards from the Ministers of Oceans and Fisheries, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Trade, Industry and Energy. They will also benefit from preferential treatment in the co-growth index evaluation, policy funding limits and interest rates, comprehensive ESG consulting linked to rural areas, and support for discovering and promoting best practices. After the evaluation, support will be provided to ensure the sustainability of related activities through consulting and the discovery and awarding of best practices.
Starting this year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will participate in the system, allowing the three ministries to jointly recognize outstanding companies and institutions. The government plans to expand related activities by linking corporate ESG management with rural cooperation.
Companies and institutions wishing to participate can submit their applications to the Foundation for Cooperation between Large and Small Enterprises and Agriculture from September 18 to October 12. Detailed information can be found in the announcements on the Rural Cooperation Fund website.
Jeon Han-young, Director of the Rural Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "Through the Rural ESG Practice System, we hope that the ESG activities of companies and institutions will lead to sustainable development in rural areas and solutions to local issues. We will continue to discover and disseminate best practices to ensure that companies and institutions can grow and coexist with rural areas, encouraging active participation from the private sector."
Yang Young-jin, Director of Fisheries Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, expressed, "We expect the Rural ESG Practice System to serve as a bridge connecting corporate ESG activities with the sustainable development of rural areas, leading to more cooperative cases that provide tangible benefits to rural communities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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