[Power K-Women] "When asked for a recommendation for the Environment Foundation Secretary-General, I replied 'That's my position'"

Accidentally Encountered Interview with Chairman Choi Yeol and Wanted to Work
Secret to Overcoming Difficult Moments: Choice and Focus
Gave Up Studies and Childcare for Foundation Work
Companies Join as Partners to Solve Environmental Issues
"Without Support from Companies or Government, Problem Solving Is Difficult"
Aiming for 10% Green Leader Population, Promoting Eco Campus Establishment

Editor's NoteAsia Economy will select women who are active not only in Asia but around the world as 'Power K-Women' at the Women Leaders Forum to be held this October. We have chosen individuals who have overcome and broken down barriers such as race, borders, and disabilities as 'Power K-Women.' This is to widely promote the value of those who have not been intimidated by discrimination or confined by boundaries but have fought back, and to convey new values of leadership to youth and women. Their stories will provide comfort to a weary world, become role models for someone, and give the community the strength to move forward again.

Date ｜ Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 9:00 AM ? 5:20 PM
Venue ｜ Lotte Hotel Crystal Ballroom (2F), Sogong-dong

"Because the cause is important and NGOs suit my aptitude, I’ve been told I’m like an ugly tree guarding the mountain. For me, the ‘inner voice’ is the most important."

Imi Kyung, CEO of the Environment Foundation, has served the foundation for 20 years, the same as the foundation’s age. Her juniors describe her drive as ‘harsh,’ but that persistence has created 20 years of dedication. The driving force that allowed her to take root at the foundation for two decades was the ‘cause.’ She said, "I had the belief and conviction that as income rises and technology advances, life will become even more important," adding, "Even now, I feel proud of myself for making excellent decisions."

CEO Im started her social career as a volunteer coordinator at Samsung Volunteer Group and in 1996 took on tasks such as creating educational programs and materials and marketing at the Korea Leadership Center, the Korean partner of FranklinCovey. There, she realized that ‘awareness must change for behavior to change, and behavior must change for the world to change,’ and learned the importance of defining one’s ‘reason for existence’ in life. However, she had not yet found the direction she needed to take. Even after becoming pregnant at 38, quitting her job, and enrolling in a doctoral program, she was uncertain. She said, "When I quit the company at eight months pregnant and was attending doctoral courses, I received offers to join education companies, but I really thought academia was not for me."

Women’s Forum Interview_ Imi Kyung, CEO of the Environment Foundation. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

At that moment, CEO Im happened to hear an interview with Choi Yeol, chairman of the Environment Foundation, on a taxi radio. The interview introduced Choi’s plan to establish the Environment Foundation in Korea after six years, having received the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the Nobel Prize in the environmental field, in the U.S. At that time, there was no foundation supporting environmental organizations in Korea. A few days after thinking, ‘I want to work at a place like that,’ a friend who was an NGO activist contacted her, asking for recommendations for a secretary-general position. CEO Im recalled, "When I got the call, I said, ‘That’s my place.’ I hummed while writing my resume. When I received offers from well-paying places, it felt like being led to the slaughterhouse, but writing a resume for the Environment Foundation was different."

She remembers the feel of the floor on her first day at the foundation, which had no office or official approval yet. It was three days after her eldest son’s first birthday party. She said, "My swelling hadn’t gone down yet, so I wore maternity clothes to work, and when I stepped on the floor, the pride and the fact that I had become part of such a great organization moved me deeply." Twenty years have passed since then. The way she overcame difficult moments during her 20 years at the Environment Foundation was through ‘selection and concentration’ and ‘not looking back.’ She gave up two of her three roles: doctoral studies, motherhood, and secretary-general of the foundation. She ended her academic pursuits and ‘solved’ childcare with money. She laughed, saying, "A nanny took care of my child until elementary school graduation. The money I gave her was equivalent to my salary."

At its inception, the Environment Foundation supported environmental research, education, and protection activities, but there was significant criticism about using corporate donations as funding. The foundation promoted environmental management through initiatives such as the ‘Ten-Thousandth Club,’ which donates one ten-thousandth of sales to environmental movements, and supporting NGO activists’ master’s and doctoral studies. Convincing companies to partner in solving environmental problems was a challenge given to CEO Im. She said, "Intellectuals, academia, media, and NGOs were all very negative about doing business with companies, but the biggest role the Environment Foundation played was getting companies to participate as partners in solving environmental issues," emphasizing, "With the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) boom, demands to treat companies as partners have increased, but ‘changing perceptions’ is crucial. Whether companies or governments, if there are no people who sympathize with us, it’s hard to succeed. Ultimately, it’s about people."

Women’s Forum Interview_Lee Mi-kyung, CEO of the Environmental Foundation./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The driving force that helped overcome crises during her 20 years at the Environment Foundation was the ‘supporters’ and fellow environmental activists. Even during the government’s crackdown for opposing the Four Major Rivers Project, the foundation’s fundraising did not decrease; rather, more people supported them. CEO Im said, "People told me to quit then, and it was a time when my child needed a lot of mother’s care, but I was encouraged by those who sincerely supported and sponsored me," adding, "Environmental activists who burn themselves like candles played a role like lanterns. The connections made at the foundation became a great strength."

The Environment Foundation started with a 200 million won endowment but raised 7.9 billion won last year. The cumulative fundraising amount reaches 100 billion won. Besides educational projects, the foundation runs various activities such as the Seoul Environment Film Festival, the cruise environmental training program ‘Green Boat,’ and the ‘Plogging Campaign,’ which involves picking up trash while running. The foundation has produced 1.45 million ‘Green Leaders,’ people who take action to solve global environmental problems, and aims to expand this to 5 million.

CEO Im joined HYBE as an outside director to create synergy with companies through ESG. She hopes more companies will overcome the still strong anti-corporate sentiment in Korea and achieve the difficult balance between carbon neutrality and business performance. She said, "The term ESG might just be a passing trend. There are still talks that ESG is ambiguous," adding, "We need to focus on ‘E (Environment).’ Ultimately, carbon reduction will be an enormously important task. We need to change energy, upcycle, and reduce carbon emissions through various technologies." She also said, "Admiration and contempt for companies coexist, and the hurdle of ESG is that companies must reduce carbon while achieving business results," but added, "I hope Korean companies manage ESG well and build a process of gaining ‘trust’ not only from investors but also from citizens. Just as people make a path by walking on bare ground, I believe the path will naturally appear."

CEO Im was appointed last March and aims to create an ‘Eco Campus’ that focuses on nurturing ‘Green Leaders’ during her remaining term. Green Leaders are people who take action for the Earth and environmental issues. Those who watch a certain number of films at the Environment Film Festival or complete educational courses become Green Leaders. The foundation purchased a 350-pyeong (approx. 1,155 sqm) site in Nuha-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and plans to start fundraising for construction within the year. She said, "The mission of the Environment Foundation is to become a community of practice where government, companies, and civil society join hands for sustainability, and I am committed to leading the effort to build the Eco Campus building within three years."

▲ Born in Seoul, 1964 ▲ Bachelor’s in Korean Literature, Yonsei University ▲ Master’s in Psychology, Yonsei University Graduate School ▲ Researcher, Samsung Social Volunteer Group ▲ Head of Planning and PR, Korea Leadership Center ▲ Viewer Deliberation Committee Member, MBC ▲ Secretary-General, Planning and Coordination Director, Secretary-General, Executive Director, Environment Foundation ▲ Private Member, Hydrogen Economy Committee ▲ Private Member, Carbon Neutrality Committee