Varieties of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): An Analysis of Prominent Definitions of CSR in Korea

Hannah Jun

Continued interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has led to a plethora of definitions, standards, and guide-lines. While this has contributed to a rich and diverse body of literature, there is a pressing need for clarity on what CSR means in specific geographic contexts and how these reflect stakeholder expectations. This is parti-cularly the case for firms, which are the objects of CSR evaluations and investment by socially responsible in-vestors. To enhance an understanding of the global vari-eties of CSR, this paper analyzes prominent definitions of CSR in Korea, specifically those proposed by the Korea Economic Justice Institute (KEJI) and Sustinvest Co., Ltd. By doing so, this paper will help articulate how CSR is conceptualized in Korea and how to situate this variety of CSR in a comparative context.