South Korea Mandates ESG Disclosure for 107 KOSPI-Listed Companies with Assets Over 10 Trillion Won from 2028

According to Financial News, South Korea's government and ruling Democratic Party finalized ESG (sustainability) disclosure requirements on July 8. Starting from the 2027 fiscal year (2028), KOSPI-listed companies with consolidated assets exceeding 10 trillion won must disclose sustainability information. The mandate affects 107 companies in the first year, expanding to 157 companies with 5 trillion won or more in assets by 2029, and potentially 259 companies with 2 trillion won or more by 2030.

Unlike the initial proposal's staged approach, disclosure will be integrated directly into legally mandated business reports beginning 2028, with submissions due each March 31. The government will provide three years of liability exemptions during the implementation period, excluding cases of intentional greenwashing. Third-party certification of disclosure information will begin in 2030. Scope 3 emissions reporting (supply chain emissions) will be phased in with three-year grace periods for each cohort, starting 2031 for the largest companies.