Titled “AI and ESG: The Future of Legal Collaboration”, the event was co-hosted by the ESG Social Innovation Center at Seoul National University and SeoulLawBot, a rising AI legal services company. The gathering took place at the university’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies and tackled urgent societal issues — such as rental fraud and legal inequality — through the lens of emerging technology.

“AI lawyers have the potential to significantly enhance access to justice, especially for working-class citizens who are often left behind by the traditional legal system,” said Professor Kim Kyung-min of SNU. He underscored the need for innovation in legal accessibility.

Professor Bae Ki-chul of Kyung Hee University echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that AI legal services could also serve the public interest by bridging critical service gaps.

From the industry perspective, Lee Young-tak, Executive Vice President at SK Telecom, stressed that the advancement of AI in the legal domain requires not only robust infrastructure but also a cultural shift in how the public perceives legal technology. “We must ensure society is ready to trust and embrace this innovation,” he said.

Ku Eun-seok, CEO of SeoulLawBot, framed the issue succinctly: “There are many lawyers in Korea, yet many people still struggle to get legal help. AI lawyers are not here to replace professionals but to complement them.” He pointed to the AI’s role in preliminary consultations, where it provides essential guidance before human lawyers step in.

Co-founder Koh Jin-seok added that the government must play an active role — not just in fostering AI legal startups, but also in adjusting regulations to accommodate and guide this emerging industry.

As South Korea explores AI’s role in the public sector, this seminar marks a pivotal step in redefining how law can serve society in the digital age. The question is no longer whether AI belongs in the courtroom — but how fast we can build a system where it can make a difference.

By Samuel Chung Technology and Business Reporter Nov. 19, 2024

SEOUL, South Korea — In a crowded auditorium at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Steve Young Kim, Binance’s Asia Pacific Director of Business Development, stood before an audience of academics and industry leaders. His message was clear: “Blockchain technology can be the salvation for the financially excluded.”

This bold declaration set the tone for a groundbreaking seminar titled “ESG Meets Blockchain,” where leaders in both fields gathered to explore how these two transformative forces might reshape the future of sustainable business practices.

The numbers are compelling. Binance’s charitable initiatives have already touched more than 2 million lives across 54 countries, with investments exceeding $23 million in 32 projects. But beyond the figures lies a larger vision of financial inclusion and transparency that blockchain technology promises to deliver.

“ESG is no longer optional in corporate management,” said Na Seok-kwon, director of SK Social Value Research Institute, emphasizing the need for quantifiable metrics in evaluating corporate sustainability efforts. This sentiment echoes growing global pressure for businesses to adopt measurable environmental, social, and governance standards.

The intersection of blockchain and humanitarian efforts was dramatically illustrated by Professor Kim Bu-yeol of Seoul National University, who shared his harrowing experience of facing life-threatening situations while attempting to transfer funds to developing nations. “The current system is broken,” he said, “but blockchain offers a way forward.”

The relationship between blockchain technology and practical applications was a central theme. “Just as Tether has demonstrated utility in transfers, practical applications will naturally drive adoption,” explained Professor Cho Jae-o of Hansung University, highlighting how technological advancement could accelerate mainstream acceptance.

However, amid the optimism, cautionary voices emerged. Professor Kim Kyung-min of Seoul National University warned about the potential for growing wealth disparities due to global liquidity expansion affecting asset prices, including cryptocurrencies. He also emphasized the need for both public and private sectors to remain vigilant about industry changes in the post-Trump era.

In a concrete example of blockchain’s potential for social impact, Ko Jin-seok, co-founder of Block ESG, detailed an ongoing microfinance project in Cambodia. The initiative, a collaboration with Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies, represents a practical application of blockchain technology in sustainable development.

“This is just the beginning,” Mr. Ko said. “The combination of blockchain transparency and ESG principles could revolutionize how we approach social impact and sustainable development.”

The seminar highlighted a crucial moment in the evolution of sustainable finance, where technology meets social responsibility. As businesses worldwide grapple with mounting pressure to demonstrate genuine commitment to ESG principles, blockchain technology offers a promising path forward, potentially transforming how we track, measure, and implement sustainable business practices.

For the global financial community, the message from Seoul was clear: the future of sustainable finance might well lie at the intersection of blockchain innovation and ESG principles. The question now is not if, but when and how this transformation will unfold.

CFA한국협회(회장 박천웅)가 10월 28일 낮 1시부터 약 5시간 동안 ‘ESG Integration: Search for a New Source of Alpha’라는 주제로 ‘제7회 Korea Investment Conference’를 개최한다. 3D 버추얼 콘퍼런스 형식으로 진행되는 이번 행사는 국내 참가자 뿐만 아니라 CFA Institute 산하 전 세계 160개 소사이어티 회원도 참여한다.

박천웅 협회장은 “제7차 Conference에서는 ESG라는 뜨거운 주제에서 가장 차갑고 냉철한 ESG Integration에 초점을 맞추고자 한다. 글로벌 마켓과 한국 시장에서 ESG가 투자 프로세스에 어떻게 통합돼왔고, 앞으로 어떻게 진전될 지 톱 다운, 바텀 업 관점에서 두루 점검해볼 예정”이라며 “이를 위해 국내외 투자 업계 ESG 최고 전문가들과 ESG를 투자 프로세스에 통합해 직접 자산을 운용하는 포트폴리오 매니저들이 콘퍼런스에 모였다. 이들이 발표·토론을 통해 전할 생생한 정보, 견해는 여러분의 기대를 충족할 것으로 기대한다”고 말했다.

콘퍼런스는 윌리스타워스왓슨에서 투자 콘텐츠 글로벌 헤드를 맡고 있는 ESG 투자 분야의 세계적 전문가 로저 어윈의 기조연설로 시작한다. 어윈은 ‘지속 가능성과 ESG-가치를 더하는 방법’이라는 주제로 지속 가능성과 ESG 관점에서 투자자들의 진화하는 투자자 환경을 조망하고, 앞으로 방향성에 대한 인사이트를 전달할 예정이다. 좌장은 윌리스타워스왓슨투자자문 신윤현 대표가 맡는다.

이어지는 패널 세션1은 ESG의 추세를 소개하며, 글로벌 각국에서 떠오르는 ESG 있는 ESG가 국내외 거시 경제와 자본 시장에서 어떤 영향을 미칠지 High Level 관점에서 논의한다. 패널 세션에는 베어링자산운용 박종학 대표가 좌장을 맡고, 패널로 △우리자산운용 최영권 대표 △삼성증권 리서치센터 및 ESG연구소 윤석모 센터장 △국회예산정책처의 진익 박사가 참여할 예정이다.

행사 전반부에서 ESG 통합을 거시적·정책적 관점으로 살펴봤다면, 후반부는 국내외 투자 업계 ESG 최고 전문가들을 초빙해 실무적 관점에서 논의가 진행될 예정이다.

후반부는 서스테널리틱스에서 방법론 및 포트폴리오 글로벌 리서치 헤드를 맡은 핸드릭 갈즈 박사의 기조연설로 문을 연다. 갈즈 박사는 ESG 리스크 등급 모델 개발 분야의 세계적 전문가다. 우리나라 투자자들이 가장 관심이 있는 ESG 등급을 기업 분석에 통합하는 방법을 소개할 예정이다.

이어지는 패널 세션2에는 ‘한국 주식 시장에서 ESG 투자로 알파(초과 성과)를 창출할 수 있는 방법’에 관해 ESG 관련 자산을 운용하는 펀드매니저 및 리처치 애널리스트가 패널로 참여한다. 세션 좌장은 모닝스타코리아 정승혜 상무가 맡고, 패널로 △이스트스프링자산 박소영 이사 △한화자산운용 김서영 팀장 △KTB자산운용 송종호 본부장 △NH-Amundi 자산운용 최용환 ESG리서치 팀장이 참여할 예정이다.

CFA한국협회는 협회 회원과 CFA Program Candidates, 유관 업계 종사자들을 대상으로 한국 및 글로벌 투자 환경에 대한 깊이 있는 분석과 투자 전문가들의 통찰력 있는 견해를 제공하기 위해 매년 투자 콘퍼런스를 진행한다. 행사 사전 등록 및 더 자세한 내용은 CFA한국협회 2021 KIC 행사 공식 홈페이지에서 확인할 수 있다.