Voluntary disclosures of sustainability reports by companies listed on the main board increased by about 10% compared with 2024.
On Jan. 5, the Korea Exchange (KRX) said that among corporations listed on the main board, 225 corporations voluntarily disclosed sustainability reports last year, up 10% from 2024 (204). The number of related disclosing corporations has been increasing every year, nearly tripling from 2021 (78).
Large corporations showed a higher disclosure ratio. While 67% of corporations with total asset aggregates of 2 trillion won or more disclosed reports, only 9% of corporations with less than 2 trillion won did so. By market capitalization, 86% of corporations with 10 trillion won or more disclosed, 65% of those with 2 trillion to less than 10 trillion won did so, and only 17% of those with less than 2 trillion won disclosed, it was found.
Most disclosing corporations (95%) identified and reported risk and opportunity factors related to climate change. The numbers of corporations that performed quantitative financial impact (17%) and scenario analysis (38%) related to risks and opportunities were similar to the previous year. However, the exchange noted that analyses of financial impact severity and presentation of specific response strategies remained insufficient.
In addition, 99% of corporations (224) disclosed greenhouse gas emissions for "Scope 1·2," but only 1% disclosed on a consolidation basis. According to the exchange, listed companies still appear to find it difficult to calculate emissions that include subsidiaries.
Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by corporations, and Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions generated in the use of purchased electricity and other inputs by corporations.
Corporations that disclosed "Scope 3" emissions, meaning other indirect emissions that occur throughout the value chain such as logistics, use, and disposal but are not included in Scope 2, reached 68%. However, the number of corporations that specified detailed calculation methods for emissions or the scope of use for estimates remained low.
The exchange plans to present exemplary drafting cases in four categories—▲ risks and opportunities ▲ financial impact ▲ scenario analysis ▲ greenhouse gas emissions—to provide reference materials aimed at strengthening climate-related corporate disclosure capabilities and improving the completeness of entries.
The exchange said, "We will support the strengthening of corporations' disclosure capabilities by holding ESG disclosure-related seminars and meetings for corporations, and will closely cooperate with government authorities and related institutions so that difficulties on the corporate side can be sufficiently reflected in the establishment of Korea's ESG disclosure system."