Study Links Major Korean Firms to Massive Loss of Natural Area in Seoul Region

A study by the Korea SHE Foundation analyzed the domestic business sites of 29 of the top 30 KOSPI-listed companies between 1980 and 2020. The research found that these companies were linked to the loss of a combined 327,837 hectares of natural area within or surrounding their operations. The study noted that global regulators are increasingly requiring companies to disclose biodiversity impacts alongside carbon emissions.

The findings highlight growing pressure on major corporations to account for ecosystem impacts, aligning with frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. This puts pressure on companies to quantify long-term nature loss associated with their business sites.