<div class="photo_view"><div class="articlePhoto" align="center"><div class="articlePhoto_C" style="display:inline-block;"><img src="https://dimg.donga.com/wps/SPORTS/IMAGE/2025/12/25/133036292.1.jpg" alt="Group photo of Seoul Tourist Plaza upcycling event participants"/><p style="word-break:break-all;width:760px;">Group photo of Seoul Tourist Plaza upcycling event participants</p></div></div></div><p>Seoul is actively weaving sustainability into its tourism sector, and the results are already visible. The Seoul Tourism Foundation recently concluded a comprehensive ESG campaign, engaging executives, employees, local businesses, citizens, and even international visitors in a collective effort to promote environmentally and socially responsible practices.</p><p>The initiative, which ran from November to December, moved beyond simple policy statements and focused on integrating ESG principles—environmental, social, and governance—into daily routines and organizational culture. It’s a fascinating approach, isn’t it? Instead of just *talking* about sustainability, they’re actively *doing* it.</p><p>A six-week environmental challenge, from November 3 to December 12, encouraged participants to adopt simple, impactful habits like switching off lights, utilizing public transport, bringing reusable tumblers, minimizing food waste, and decluttering inboxes. A total of 137 people took part, collectively reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 170 kg.</p><div class="photo_view"><div class="articlePhoto" align="center"><div class="articlePhoto_C" style="display:inline-block;"><img src="https://dimg.donga.com/wps/SPORTS/IMAGE/2025/12/25/133036293.1.jpg" alt="Christmas trees are decorated with ornaments made using bottle caps and stocking necks."/><p style="word-break:break-all;width:760px;">Christmas trees are decorated with ornaments made using bottle caps and stocking necks.</p></div></div></div><br/><div class="photo_view"><div class="articlePhoto" align="center"><div class="articlePhoto_C" style="display:inline-block;"><img src="https://dimg.donga.com/wps/SPORTS/IMAGE/2025/12/25/133036301.1.jpg" alt="Photos from the upcycling event"/><p style="word-break:break-all;width:760px;">Photos from the upcycling event</p></div></div></div><br/>Beyond Environmental Efforts: A Holistic Approach
The Seoul Tourism Foundation’s commitment extends beyond environmental concerns. Regular blood donation and donation drives fostered a sense of community, while a quiz program focused on fair trade and ethical management boosted understanding of responsible governance. On December 5, the Seoul Tourist Plaza hosted an ESG vision seminar featuring Jonghee Park, CEO of TNS Consulting, who spoke on ‘The future of sustainable tourism, finding answers in ESG management.’ Professor Younghye Yoon of Dongduk Women’s University followed with a presentation titled ‘Do ESG with MICE,’ exploring applications within the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions sector.
The campaign wasn’t confined to seminars and internal initiatives. On December 10, visitors to the Seoul Tourist Plaza joined foundation employees in a hands-on upcycling event, creating Christmas tree decorations from discarded materials. The vibrant display served as a tangible reminder of the importance of environmental protection and sustainability during the holiday season.
“This ESG practice campaign is an example of putting ESG into practice through the participation of foundation executives, tenants, and citizens,” stated Gil Ki-yeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Foundation. He further emphasized the foundation’s intention to continue prioritizing sustainable tourism and ESG management, utilizing the Seoul Tourism Plaza as a central hub for these efforts.
