Korea Employment Information Service wins ESG governance award, publishes sustainability report

The Korea Employment Information Service has won the governance excellence award at the Korean Association for Public Administration's ESG Innovation Policy Awards, in recognition of its work on internal control systems and the establishment of ethical principles for AI-based employment services.

The agency said Thursday it received the award for achievements including the systematic operation of its internal control regime, the establishment of AI employment service ethics principles, and the revitalization of its board of directors. ESG stands for environmental, social and governance.

The agency also published its "2026 Sustainability Management Report," which outlines its ESG management strategy and key achievements. This year marks the third consecutive year it has issued such a report.

The report fully adopts the public institution ESG guidelines framework the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced in December last year. It is structured around 37 indicators and 80 sub-indicators across the environmental, social and governance categories, and follows the requirements of GRI Standards 2021, the international reporting guidelines for sustainability management.

The environmental section covers efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the establishment of a cloud migration roadmap and the replacement of aging data center equipment, as well as initiatives to improve energy efficiency.

The social section highlights achievements in advancing AI-based intelligent security monitoring, expanding cooperation with partner companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, and carrying out community development projects — including outreach employment counseling for vulnerable populations.

The governance section covers the operation of an internal control regime centered on the agency head, new certification under ISO 37301, the international standard for compliance management systems, strengthened board functions and stakeholder communication, and the establishment of an external cooperation framework for employment services.

"The responsibility of the Korea Employment Information Service is growing heavier than ever amid the sweeping digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence," said Lee Chang-su, president of the agency. "Through AI innovation and sustainable management, we will provide the highest level of employment information and tailored services to all citizens seeking work — stably and without interruption."

The report is available in an interactive PDF format on the agency's website.