[2022 Asia ESG Forum] Junho Lee "SK Telecom Creates 2 Trillion KRW Social Value by Integrating AI and ICT"

"Total Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions"
Role of AI and ICT Technologies in Social Safety Nets

Lee Junho, Vice President of ESG Promotion at SK Telecom, is giving a lecture on "ESG Strategies of Large Corporations in Times of Crisis" at the 2022 Asia ESG Symposium held on the 4th at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Lee Junho, Vice President in charge of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) promotion at SK Telecom, stated, "The ESG management paradigm is shifting from merely defending against the deterioration of corporate value to maximizing corporate value."

At the '2022 Asia ESG Symposium' held on the 4th at the Westin Chosun Hotel, Lee said, "There is a movement actively responding to the trend of value consumption, which has become a new criterion for judgment, moving away from a passive attitude aimed at protecting corporate value."

He added, "SK Telecom sets its ESG management goal as creating a sustainable society together with customers and society through artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT). The social value created in 2021 reached 2.34 trillion won, a 20% increase compared to the previous year."

He introduced, "In the environmental sector, we are utilizing energy technologies such as domestic and international carbon reduction projects and the establishment of our own solar power generation facilities to achieve net zero by 2050 and build an ICT-based plastic-free ecosystem. We are also establishing a social safety net that protects against everyday risks such as voice phishing and various disasters, and cares for socially marginalized neighbors through AI technology."

Lee predicted that SK Telecom's power consumption will steadily increase until 2030 due to the installation and expansion of telecommunications equipment. He said, "By increasing the proportion of carbon-free power sources, greenhouse gas emissions will gradually decrease after 2030. We are pursuing net zero by 2050 through direct reduction (25%), renewable energy transition (75%), and external reduction projects (1%)."

He explained, "The AI care service provided through collaboration with social enterprises, the central government, local governments, small and medium-sized enterprises, and regional institutions enables 24-hour management based on big data analysis of user usage patterns. It is linked with 119 emergency rescue activities to save lives, and has also been verified to have effects in preventing dementia and delaying dementia onset by about two years."

The AI care service, currently provided to over 15,000 people, has responded to 311 emergencies through its emergency rescue function.

Lee emphasized that 'Happy Habit,' an initiative to reduce the use of disposable plastic cups to address climate change issues, is also achieving significant ESG management results.

He explained, "It is a method that encourages the use of reusable cups by creating them with the cost saved from disposable cup usage. The collection and washing of reusable cups are handled by social enterprises, which not only reduces plastic use but also leads to the creation of social jobs." He added, "So far, the reduction scale is 4.5 million cups, equivalent to 71 times the height of Mount Everest in plastic cup usage."

Lee concluded, "We plan to strengthen implementation measures for sustainable development goals and activate global partnerships. We will contribute to realizing a sustainable society beyond corporate survival and growth."