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Ethical Management

Project Background

SK Square believes that ethical management constitutes the company's competitive edge and pursues sustainable happiness for all its stakeholders, including employees.

Code of Ethics

SK Square has enacted the “Code of Ethics” to implement and promote ethical management, and has used it as a criterion for decision-making and behaviors in all business activities.

Code of Ethics

Scope of Application

SK Square employees - It refers to all employees (including non-regular workers) as the subject of management activities. Subsidiaries - All subsidiaries that can effectively exercise management rights Business partners - Business partners, consulting firms, investment partners, etc. Other applicable stakeholders

Status of Pledge to Practice Ethical Management

Percentage of employees who signed the pledge
Unit %
2021 -
2022 98
2023 99
Category Unit 2021 2022 2023
Percentage of employees who signed the pledge % - 98 99

Ethical Management System

SK Square is committed to building trusted relationships with stakeholders and creating a desirable corporate culture. For this, we have developed an ethical management system to ‘practice corporate ethical management that all stakeholders can trust.’ We systematically implement ethical management and internalize transparent, ethical awareness within the company. Major ethical management plans and the results of the plans are managed by the Ethical Management Officer under the Audit Committee, and the Audit Committee under the BOD is in charge of the final review and approval.

Goal

Practicing Corporate Ethical Management That All Stakeholders Can Trust

Implementation System

Code of Ethics
  • Specify the duties, responsibilities, and roles for employees, the company, customers, business partners, shareholders, and society based on SKMS (SK Management System), which is SK management philosophy and principle of conduct
  • Implement the regulations of the “Code of Ethics Implementation Guide” to promote a correct understanding of the Code of Ethics and specific directions
  • Encourage the application of social responsibility, including SK Square’s business ethics and anti-corruption policies, to business partners in contractual relationships(Implementing the BP Pledge of Ethics Practice)
Code of Ethics Implementation Guide

BP Pledge of Ethics Practice

Anti-corruption activities, such as providing money, hospitalities, and other non-financial benefits, are strictly prohibited, and sanctions are implemented when they occur BP Pledge of Ethics Practice is mandatory when registering with Partner Portal(Open4U) The document is attached to each contract to strengthen compliance for all business partners
Implementation Organization
  • (BOD) Audit Committee
  • (Directly reporting to Audit Committee) Ethical Management

Audit Committee

  • Accounting supervision, management work supervision, risk management, final review and approval of ethical management plans and the results, etc.

Ethical Management

  • Support for ethical management practice for all the company employees
  • Management diagnosis and investigation of reported unethical behaviors
  • Operation of the subsidiary auditing organization’s working-level consultative body and support for the Audit Committee
  • Report plans and results of regular ethical audits and ethical management to Audit Committee
Spreading Awareness
  • Conducting the online ethical management practice training and company-wide ethical management practice workshop
  • Pledge to practice ethical management for employees, including leaders (once a year)
  • Operating the SK Group’s integrated reporting channel and in-house ethical management portal

Goal

Practicing Corporate Ethical Management That All Stakeholders Can Trust

Implementation System

Code of Ethics
  • Specify the duties, responsibilities, and roles for employees, the company, customers, business partners, shareholders, and society based on SKMS (SK Management System), which is SK management philosophy and principle of conduct
  • Implement the regulations of the “Code of Ethics Implementation Guide” to promote a correct understanding of the Code of Ethics and specific directions
  • Encourage the application of social responsibility, including SK Square’s business ethics and anti-corruption policies, to business partners in contractual relationships(Implementing the BP Pledge of Ethics Practice)
Code of Ethics Implementation Guide
BP Pledge of Ethical Practice Anti-corruption activities, such as providing money, hospitalities, and other non-financial benefits, are strictly prohibited, and sanctions are implemented when they occur BP Pledge of Ethics Practice is mandatory when registering with Partner Portal(Open4U) The document is attached to each contract to strengthen compliance for all business partners
Implementation Organization
  • (BOD) Audit Committee
  • (Directly reporting to Audit Committee) Ethical Management
Audit Committee
  • Accounting supervision, management work supervision, risk management, final review and approval of ethical management plans and the results, etc.
Ethical Management
  • Support for ethical management practice for all the company employees
  • Management diagnosis and investigation of reported unethical behaviors
  • Operation of the subsidiary auditing organization’s working-level consultative body and support for the Audit Committee
  • Report plans and results of regular ethical audits and ethical management to Audit Committee
Spreading Awareness
  • Conducting the online ethical management practice training and company-wide ethical management practice workshop
  • Pledge to practice ethical management for employees, including leaders (once a year)
  • Operating the SK Group’s integrated reporting channel and in-house ethical management portal

Policy of Ethics and Anti-corruption Education

SK Square regularly conducts ethics education to internalize ethical management and spread an ethical culture. Moreover, it institutionalized compulsory ethics education for all employees(including part-time and contract work). It is reported that 97% of its employees attended ethics education in 2022.

Ethics Education Implemented

  • Online education (basic education) The educational content focuses on what employees must be familiar with in the Code of Ethics and Code of Ethics Implementation Guide
  • Education for new/experienced employees The educational content focuses on what new employees should be familiar with in performing their duties, such as legal processes and conflicts of interest
  • Ethical Management Practice Workshop (intensive) The educational content customized to respond to ethical issues and prevent incidents in ethically vulnerable areas

Status of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Education

Percentage of employees who completed training on ethical management
Unit %
2021 -
2022 97
2023 Target 100
Category Unit 2021 2022 2023 Target
Percentage of employees who completed training on ethical management % - 97 100

Roadmap for Expanding Anti-corruption Education for Employees

2023~2024 Continuous advancement of anti-corruption management system Revision of anti-corruption policies with specific and practical content Implementation of anti-corruption training for contract workers/dispatched workers (maintaining ISO 37001 certification) 2025~2026 Build and spread a culture of autonomous implementation of anti-corruption Hold anti-corruption workshops Achieve 100% of employees' anti-corruption education completion rate 2027~ Maintain zero cases of anti-corruption violations

Ethical Risk Management (Audits)

SK Square regularly conducts internal management diagnosis(audits) for the company and all subsidiaries where it exercises substantial management rights to prevent risks related to unethical behaviors and practice prevention-centered ethical management. In addition, SK Square continuously improves the internal audit level for the company’s major functions through self-checking systems.

Regular Audits of Ethical Standards

Category Description
Key checklists
  • Support decision-making on the direction of business strategies
  • Check compliance with company rules and regulations during business operations
  • Check any business or activities that are against the customer value
  • Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and corporate resources
  • Check whether the company has internal control functions and continuously upgrade their level
  • Check the validity of accounting records, financial statements, and reports and their compliance with corporate accounting standards
  • Check for violations of ethical standards and anti-corruption policies
Frequency
  • At least once every three years for each target
Internal monitoring system
  • Check once a year in six areas, including HR, purchasing, and expenses (including checking subsidiaries and managing their implementation)
Category Description
Key checklists
  • Support decision-making on the direction of business strategies
  • Check compliance with company rules and regulations during business operations
  • Check any business or activities that are against the customer value
  • Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and corporate resources
  • Check whether the company has internal control functions and continuously upgrade their level
  • Check the validity of accounting records, financial statements, and reports and their compliance with corporate accounting standards
  • Check for violations of ethical standards and anti-corruption policies
Frequency
  • At least once every three years for each target
Internal monitoring system
  • Check once a year in six areas, including HR, purchasing, and expenses (including checking subsidiaries and managing their implementation)

To ensure high level of compliance with ethics-related requirements and values, we conduct regular ethical management audits on ourselves and on our subsidiaries at least once every three years. In addition to our self-examination, SK Group conducts regular ethics audit on its subsidiaries, including SK Square, to ensure objectivity and absence of bias. Such audits are extensive and are conducted for months on end.

These audits allow us to investigate into how well our organization is performing on conforming to the ethical standards of the industry and society. The objective is to identify, prevent and eliminate unethical behavior. The results of the audit on ethical standards are regularly reported to the Audit Committee, at least annually. The audited departments and subsidiaries establish/submit/implement measures to prevent recurrence of all matters that have been identified as requiring improvement as a result of the audit. The ethics management department checks the implementation results and makes every effort to prevent similar unethical risks from recurring. In addition, if individual corruption or misconduct is detected, it is strictly handled according to the principle of zero tolerance. The committee provides feedback to the management and the Ethical Management Team, and through further self-analysis and diagnosis, we continue to improve ways to ensure prevention and elimination of any unethical behavior.

Since the incorporation of SK Square in November, 2021, Year 2022 marked the very first year for our audit of ethical standards. Our ethics experts devoted their know-how and expertise to ensure we are starting off on the right foot. The results were as follows, and the additional audits scheduled to be completed in 2023 are as follows (both in alphabetical order)

Company Scope of Audit Results of Audit
2022
11 Street Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control Identified areas of improvement on certain internal rules and regulations
Dreamus Company Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control on iRiver businesses Identified areas of improvement on the soundness of certain business practices
FSK L&S Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control Identified areas of improvement on certain internal rules and regulations, operation of grievance reporting channels and hotlines, and effective control of ethical standards for its global businesses
SK Shieldus Effectiveness of ethical management system; and internal control Satisfactory; and Identified areas of improvement on certain aspects of internal control
SK Square Settlement of accounts; and treatment of expenses Satisfactory; and Identified 137 areas for improvement
Tmap Mobility Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control Identified areas of improvement on internal rules and regulations, operation of grievance reporting channels and hotlines, and compliance with the self-purification system of SK group’s ethics principles.
2023
Dreamus Company To be disclosed in progress
FSK L&S To be disclosed in progress
Incross To be disclosed in progress
SK Square To be disclosed in progress
SK Square Americas To be disclosed in progress
Year Company Scope of Audit Results of Audit
2022 11 Street Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control Identified areas of improvement on certain internal rules and regulations
Dreamus Company Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control on iRiver businesses Identified areas of improvement on the soundness of certain business practices
FSK L&S Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control Identified areas of improvement on certain internal rules and regulations, operation of grievance reporting channels and hotlines, and effective control of ethical standards for its global businesses
SK Shieldus Effectiveness of ethical management system; and internal control Satisfactory; and Identified areas of improvement on certain aspects of internal control
SK Square Settlement of accounts; and treatment of expenses Satisfactory; and Identified 137 areas for improvement
Tmap Mobility Effectiveness of ethical management system and internal control Identified areas of improvement on internal rules and regulations, operation of grievance reporting channels and hotlines, and compliance with the self-purification system of SK group’s ethics principles.
2023 Dreamus Company To be disclosed in progress
FSK L&S To be disclosed in progress
Incross To be disclosed in progress
SK Square To be disclosed in progress
SK Square Americas To be disclosed in progress

*We utilize a unique ethical management system of SK Group (which can be found on pages 28 and in the sustainability report of SK Inc. at https://sk-inc.com/resources/download/esg/sustainability/ENG_SK-Inc_SR_2022_Interactive_Final.pdf to prevent unethical behavior and ensure compliance with the highest standards of ethics.

SK Square conducts mandatory regular ethical education training programs year-around. In 2022, the following programs were completed with high completion rates:

  • 100%: Percentage of employees who submitted ethical practice pledge for '22;
  • 97%: Percentage of employees who completed SK Group’s online ethical management training program in '22;
  • 96%: Percentage of employees who completed sexual harassment prevention training in '22;
  • 100%: Percentage of employees who completed ethical management workshop in '22; and
  • 100%: Percentage of all newly hired employees who completed offline ethical management education program.

Management Diagnosis(audit) Status

Number of management diagnosis (audit)
2021 -
2022 2 (two subsidiaries)
2023(plan) 3 (three subsidiaries)
Number of self-regulation system monitoring areas
2021 -
2022 6
2023(plan) 6
Category 2021 2022 2023(plan)
Number of management diagnosis (audit) - 2 (two subsidiaries) 3 (three subsidiaries)
Number of self-regulation system monitoring areas - 6 6

Counseling and Reporting System

SK Square operates various channels that enable stakeholders to freely consult and report on ethical management in order to establish transparency and trust in ethical management. Reports received through the ethical management consultation and reporting system are handled promptly and fairly. In the event of reporting(real name reporting is also possible), the confidentiality of whistleblower is protected, and identification of whistleblower is prohibited based on the Code of Ethics Implementation Guide

Ethics Violations Reporting and Handling Process

  • Receiving reports Ethics Consultation Report Center (Online)
  • Investigation and Verification Review of details followed by investigation and verification
  • Notification of results Notification of results to the whistleblower
  • Actions Internal actions to prevent repetition

Status of Reporting and Handling of Corruptions

Number of violations of anti-corruption regulations
Unit Case
2021 0
2022 0
Number of ethical management issues reported
Unit Case
2021 0
2022 7
Percentage of valid reports (investigated cases)
Unit %
2021 0
2022 0
Number of disciplinary actions due to unethical behavior
Unit Case
2021 0
2022 0
Category Unit 2021 2022
Number of violations of anti-corruption regulations Case 0 0
Number of ethical management issues reported Case 0 7
Percentage of valid reports (investigated cases) % 0 0
Number of disciplinary actions due to unethical behavior Case 0 0