KB Securities hosts ESG lecture featuring science communicator 'Gwedo'

KB Securities hosted a special ESG lecture on climate change and sustainable management for its employees, inviting science communicator Gwedo as the featured speaker.

The company said Wednesday it held the lecture on the theme "The Climate Crisis: Can Humanity Overcome It?" for its staff.

The event was organized amid growing recognition of climate change as a major risk to the financial industry, with the aim of helping employees understand the crisis from a scientific perspective and reflect on the role of sustainable finance.

Gwedo walked attendees through the causes and scientific principles behind climate change, the effects of rising global average temperatures, and possible responses to the crisis, drawing on a range of real-world examples. "The climate crisis is not something to fear or feel anxious about — it is a challenge we must understand based on scientific fact and solve together," he said. "If advances in science and technology are combined with small actions by every member of society, we can build a sustainable future."

The lecture came as the government moves to expand mandatory ESG disclosure requirements, raising the stakes for corporate ESG compliance. The Financial Services Commission announced its "ESG Disclosure Institutionalization Plan" on Wednesday, requiring Kospi-listed companies with consolidated total assets of 10 trillion won ($6.62 billion) or more to disclose ESG information starting in 2028. The commission is also reviewing plans to extend the requirement to companies with consolidated total assets of at least 2 trillion won by 2030.

No Jong-gap, head of KB Securities' management administration group, said the climate crisis extends beyond an environmental issue to one that all of society, businesses and future generations must confront together. "ESG is not confined to a specific department or activity — it is woven into the company's broader systems and policies," he said. "We will continue to spread an ESG culture together with our employees and create sustainable value in our daily work."

Last year, KB Securities ran a "Climate Fresk" workshop — an employee-participation education program — alongside broadcaster Julian Quintart, and carried out conservation activities through a project called "Ggebi's Hopeful Tidal Flat, a Lifelong Tidal Flat Donation Project," which drew more than 200 employees. The company also runs eco-friendly initiatives such as the "Energy Guardian Polarbee Relay Challenge."