Gwanak-gu received the grand prize in the local government ESG category (comprehensive category) at the 3rd Korea ESG Awards. This award recognizes Gwanak-gu’s administrative achievements across all areas of Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance (G).
The 3rd Korea ESG Awards is jointly organized by the Korea ESG Society and Kookmin Ilbo. The awards are designed to identify and encourage institutions and individuals leading positive social change through ESG management. The evaluation categories include 18 sectors such as administration, judiciary, local governments, and individuals. The ESG Evaluation Committee assesses the sustainability and effectiveness of ESG implementation achievements like carbon reduction, respect for human rights, and transparent management.
Gwanak-gu has set “The ESG Gwanak: A City Dreaming of the Future” as its vision. The district has been achieving balanced results by advancing 46 projects across 20 departments in the three areas of environment, social, and governance, based on ‘Gwanak-style ESG administration’.
In the environmental sector, responding to the climate crisis is a key task, and carbon-neutral policies have been strengthened. The district aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% by 2030 and is pursuing 96 detailed projects in five fields: buildings, transportation, waste, absorption, and disaster response. It was the first in Seoul to produce and distribute dedicated recycling bags for free and, nationwide, the first to operate a ‘waste cooking oil smart collection system,’ thus establishing a resident participation-based environmental protection framework.
In the social sector, it is discovering and implementing welfare models that respond to changes in the regional demographic structure. The district has laid the foundation for a sustainable economic growth ecosystem, enabling the local community to live together.
In the governance sector, resident participatory budgeting and regional cooperation have expanded resident participation. The district has increased administrative transparency and accountability by strengthening resident sovereignty.
Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “Gwanak-gu has led the spread of ESG values by incorporating the perspective of sustainable development throughout all processes of district administration and policy. We will become a city leading sustainable development by strengthening our public responsibilities to respond to the climate crisis, ensure social inclusion, and practice transparent governance.”
