Woori Financial Group Achieves Top ESG Rating 'ST1'... Plans to Issue 200 Billion KRW Bonds by Month-End

Received First ESG Certification Grade Among Financial Holding Companies... First ESG Bond Issued Since Holding Company Establishment
"Group's Capital Adequacy Expected to Slightly Improve with Won-Denominated Hybrid Capital Securities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Woori Financial Group announced on the 7th that it will issue ESG bonds in the form of Korean won denominated hybrid capital securities after receiving the highest ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) certification grade from a credit rating agency, becoming the first domestic financial holding company to do so.

The ESG certification grade is evaluated and managed in five levels by an external professional institution that monitors management standards and post-management.

In particular, the bonds to be issued this time are the first domestic financial holding company bonds to apply the ESG certification grading system, receiving the highest grade (ST1) among sustainable finance certification grades from Korea Ratings.

Woori Financial plans to finalize the amount and interest rate within a maximum of 200 billion KRW based on the demand forecast for institutional investors around the end of this month and issue the bonds in early next month.

Additionally, these bonds are the first ESG bonds issued since the establishment of the holding company and are expected to slightly improve the group's capital adequacy as they are issued in the form of hybrid capital securities.

A Woori Financial official stated, "Obtaining the ESG certification grade for the first time among domestic financial holding companies reflects the will of Chairman Sohn Tae-seung, who has emphasized the spread of ESG DNA throughout the group." He added, "We will continue to practice substantial ESG management befitting our status as a leading financial group in ESG management."