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Korea Exchange

Name Korea Exchange (KRX)
Country Korea (Republic of)
Number of listed companies 2406
Domestic market capitalization 2218658.14 million US$
SSE Partner Exchange Yes
Has annual sustainability report No

ESG reporting required as a listing rule No

  • The Financial Services Commission’s  Green Posting System (2012) requires around 500 firms to post the amount of GHG emission and energy usage and the certification of green technology and green business. Moreover, if the firms are listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, they are required to include the information in their annual reports. (Source).
  • KOSPI listed companies with total assets of more than KRW 2 trillion are required to submit their corporate governance reports from 2019, here.
     

Has written guidance on ESG reporting No

  • KRX published ‘Guidelines on Disclosure of Corporate Governance’ for listed companies on April 2019.
  • You can find press release and the guidelines with this link.

Offers ESG related training Yes

  • 2019 KRX Index Conference, which focused on ESG investment.
  • In 2022, KRX provided training on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD recommendations) in collaboration with the SSE, CDP and IFC. (source)

Market covered by sustainability-related index Yes

KRX Indices:

  • KRX ESG Leaders 150
  • KRX Governance Leaders 100
  • KRX Eco Leaders 100
  • KRX ESG Social Index
  • KOSPI 200 ESG.
 

Has sustainability bond listing segment Yes

  • KRX launched on June 2020 the SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) Bonds
    • The issuing proceeds of SRI bonds are used for projects that are eco-friendly or generate social benefits, and they are called green, social and sustainable bonds. They are also referred to as ESG, thematic and social contribution bonds.

Has SME listing platform Yes

Women on boards mandatory minimum rule Yes

  • There is a mandatory minimum rule of at least 1 woman on boards. Source: MSCI. (2020). Women on Boards: 2020 Progress Report. Details of the rule: As of July 2020, a large listed company should not have a board comprising only one gender.

Additional information
Organizational model of stock exchange
  • Demutualized for profit; demutualization in progress.

Regulatory bodies

Regulatory model

Limited Exchange Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) Model

  • The Korea Exchange has regulatory authority over the listing requirements and certain trading rules such as membership eligibility. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is a sub committee of the Financial Services Commission (FSC); the organisation with the responsibility of Korea’s financial markets. The SFC’s primary regulatory responsibilities are: market surveillance, company accounting standards and audit reviews, as well as other responsibilities delegated from the FSC. There is a mix of regulatory authority but the majority, and some of the most important, responsibilities fall under Korea’s SFC and FSC.

About the stock exchange

Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea

  • The Korea Exchange (KRX), which was launched in January 2005 by consolidating the four domestic markets, is committed to further the market credibility, customer-oriented management and confidence of organization, thus building up itself as a leading capital market in Northeast Asia. The Management Strategy Division establishes the business strategy and management reform agenda, and proposes the long-term vision necessary for enhancement of the KRX’s reputation. (Source).

Criteria for Stock Exchange Database

The SSE maintains a database of sustainability activities for all stock exchanges that are either members of the SSE initiative and/or members of the World Federation of Exchanges. This database is the most comprehensive database of stock exchanges worldwide and contains data on all main stock exchanges. The information in this database is intended to inform investors and other stakeholders on the work stock exchanges are undertaking to advance sustainability in their respective markets.

The information provided in this database is based on publicly available information prepared by the SSE Secretariat with input from stock exchanges in most instances. Sources and explanatory notes on sustainability information have been included in individual Stock Exchange Fact Sheets. The criteria for each category can be found below.

While every effort is made to keep the information in this database up to date, please be aware that certain factors change frequently and therefore may not be exact, such as the number of listed companies or market cap.

Field

Criteria Considered

Country Country of primary residence or registration
Has signed the SSE Commitment Letter? To be considered an SSE Partner Exchange, the CEO or Chairperson of the exchange must sign an SSE commitment letter. Contact the SSE for more information if your exchange would like to join.
Has annual sustainability report? For a yes, stock exchanges must report, either in a stand alone report or integrated into their financial report, on their environmental and social impact and corporate governance.
ESG reporting required as a listing rule? For a yes, all three factors have been considered (environmental, social and governance) within the listing rules for some or all listed companies. This requirement may come from the regulatory authority or the exchange, depending on the market.
Offers written guidance on ESG reporting? For a yes, all three factors have been considered (environmental, social and governance). The SSE has developed a model guidance that all exchanges can use to develop their own guidance to issuers. For more details, click here.
Offers ESG related training? For a yes, training must have taken place in the previous 12 months, and must be interactive. The topic of the training must be on some area of sustainability.
Market covered by sustainability-related index? Sustainability-related indices may include environmental or social  indices, or ESG indices. This could include specific themes, such as low carbon indices, or general sustainability indices. The index must be specific to the market the exchange operates in (a region or world index is not included).
Has sustainability bond listing segment? For a yes, the exchange has developed the rules and regulations allowing for sustainability bonds to be listed, and provides a separate segment for listing making the bonds easy to find and identify.
Has an SME listing platform? For a yes, the exchange offers a listing platform specifically for Small-and-Medium sized enterprises.
Additional Information Additional Information captures exchanges’: sustainability section of websites,  sustainability products not captured under indices; information on future sustainability commitments and other information on the exchange
Organizational model of stock exchange Whether the exchange is listed or not, and when it was demutualized
Regulatory bodies The regulatory authority that sets listing requirements and capital market regulation for the exchange's market
Regulatory model

The extent to which exchanges have regulatory authority in their market. This may include:

  • Limited exchange SRO
  • Strong exchange SRO
  • Independent member SRO
  • Government (Statutory)
  • Non-SRO
About the stock exchange The location of the headquarters of the exchange, and any additional details about the stock exchange.