최종현의 사회적 책임과 사회복지사업

Social responsibiligy and social welfare programs by chairman Jong-hyun chey

Todays society demands business firms for greater social responsibilities than ever before. This demand is natural outcome of major firms that tend to command an Increasing level of social influence and corporate power, but that are not sufficiently regulated by their governments. Under this circumstance, they are now called to carry out proactive social initiatives and to bear their social responsibilities in order to achieve three goals: earning the legitimacy as a corporate citizen, acquiring adaptability to a changing environment and facilitating social development based on corporate growth. Consequently, corporate citizens need to add one more thing to then list of responsibilities in addition to their legal, ethical and economic ones, that is. the responsibility of actively making social contributions to ultimately promote the public welfare. Late Chairman Jong-Hyun Chey of SK Group had the credo, which was to prepare for the future. With his credo, he took a great interest in fostering young talents and carried out various social contributions programs in a bid to promote human-oriented management and education. Well before the issue of corporate social responsibility surfaced in Korea, he had planned a 20 year-education initiative and established the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies. Through such initiatives, he implemented a variety or scholarship programs and research support programs, and promoted Industry-academic collaborations. He also sponsored various communities programs and the Scholarship Quiz, a television quiz show that awarded winner students with scholarships. These programs aimed to promote social sciences, humanities, pure sciences, Asian studies and IT studies. Moreover. In his effort to promote sports in Korea, he managed Sunkyung Sports Team, Yukong Soccer Team and other sports teams and helped make a great number of talented athletes members of the Korean National Team, thereby making remarkable contributions to promotion of sports in the country. At the same time, he promoted deeper understanding between labor and management and paved the way for building Industrial democracy, by successfully implementing a medical insurance project of the Sunkyung Medical Insurance Association. Mr. Chey, who emphasized a human-oriented business mindset, set his goal at promoting education and nurturing young talents. In this regard, he implemented much-needed social welfare programs at a time when there had been little recognition of welfare m Korea. His endeavor helped to raise the recognition of corporate social responsibility among the Koreans and thus he is now viewed as a leader in spreading the concept. Korean enterprises should take a lesson from the late chairmans efforts and goals, overcome the current economic difficulties, and help the country join the ranks with the advanced nations. Furthermore, they should strive to fulfill their social responsibilities, promote the general welfare and assume their share of responsibility In a global level, laying the foundation for sharpening genuine national competitiveness.