What: Hyundai Department Store Group achieves industry-leading ESG recognition with six major affiliates selected for the 'ESG Best Company 100,' while maintaining A-grade ratings across its portfolio through systematic governance and strategic sustainability initiatives.

Why it is important: The recognition validates the effectiveness of systematic ESG implementation in retail, showing how centralised governance structures can drive sustainable practices across diverse business units.

Hyundai Department Store Group has demonstrated exceptional ESG performance with six major listed affiliates being selected for the "ESG Best Company 100" by Sustin Best, Korea's leading ESG evaluation agency. The recognition encompasses Hyundai Home Shopping, Hyundai Department Store, Hyundai GF Holdings, Hyundai Green Food, Hyundai Livart, and Handsome. Notably, Hyundai Home Shopping and Hyundai Department Store achieved first and second place rankings among companies worth more than 2 trillion won. This success builds on their strong performance in the 2024 ESG Evaluation by the Korea ESG Standards Institute (KCGS), where 10 out of 12 listed affiliates maintained an integrated A grade or higher for the second consecutive year. The group attributes these achievements to their systematic approach to ESG management, particularly through their holding company-centered "ESG consultative body" and their focus on governance enhancement and shareholder value maximisation.

IADS Notes: The retail industry's approach to ESG has undergone significant transformation throughout 2024-2025. According to The Nation in September 2024, major Asian retailers led the way with ambitious net-zero emissions targets and circular economy initiatives, setting new standards for the industry. This momentum continued when, as reported by The Robin Report in January 2025, Peek & Cloppenburg launched the world's largest fully green retail outlet, demonstrating how sustainability can be integrated into physical retail spaces. Euromonitor's analysis in February 2025 revealed that retailers are increasingly embedding sustainability across their entire value chains in response to shifting consumer expectations. This trend was further exemplified when Fashion Network reported in April 2025 that Galeries Lafayette had launched a comprehensive CSR strategy focusing on commerce reinvention and environmental preservation. The evolution culminated in May 2025, as Fashion Network covered Falabella's implementation of a holistic sustainability strategy encompassing environmental impact reduction, workforce diversity, and community development, showing how retailers can successfully balance ESG initiatives with business performance.

Hyundai Department Store establishes itself as an “ESG management company”