ESG: The Driving Force for Both Myself and Hyundai Transys

-Manager Kim Wang-young, Strategy Support Team

 

 

Q. You majored in environmental engineering.
What first sparked your interest in the environment?

 

A. My interest began back in high school when I came across Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. The book’s powerful exploration of how chemicals impact both ecosystems and human health left a deep impression on me and inspired my curiosity about the environment. Naturally, this led me to major in environmental engineering.
During university, I co-founded an environmental club with friends and launched a shared tumbler project. While taking part in various environmental initiatives, I witnessed firsthand how some of the projects I planned could influence people’s awareness. The sense of pride and fulfillment I gained from those experiences has steadily grown over time and ultimately guided me to the ESG work I’m engaged in today.

 

Q. You are now working as an ESG manager at Hyundai Transys. 
How has your view on the environment changed before and after joining?

 

A. I’m now in my second year as an ESG manager, and the biggest change has been in my perspective. Previously, I focused more on the individual level, thinking, “I need to change people’s awareness.” Today, my viewpoint has broadened to the organizational level, asking, “What strategies does a company need in order to grow sustainably?” I’ve also come to realize that the ESG team’s role goes far beyond evaluations and reporting. It acts as a vital bridge between corporate strategy and on-site operations, which has given me even greater motivation.
In my previous company, I was responsible for environmental management at a business site. 

 

Although still within the environmental field, the work was often more routine. By contrast, my current ESG work is very different: instead of simply following a set path, we are charting the course and designing the approach ourselves. This dynamic, learning-intensive nature of the work feels like a much better fit for me.

 

 

Q. This year, you led the publication of the company’s Sustainability Report. 
How was that for you?

 

A. That’s right. It was the first project I led since joining the company, and also the most challenging. The essence of a sustainability report is to gather data within a short timeframe while ensuring accuracy and consistency. What made it especially demanding was the need to align with external disclosure standards, meet client requirements, and reconcile the different terminologies and perspectives across internal departments.

During the process, we introduced a new digital approval system and worked to embed ESG data into our internal systems. I also held briefing sessions for department managers and team leaders to stress the importance of the report and kept up continuous communication to instill a sense of accountability throughout the organization. Since ESG data directly connects to external disclosures, strong internal integration is critical. The journey certainly wasn’t without difficulties, but it produced meaningful results and left me with a strong sense of accomplishment.

 

Q. As a hands-on manager, when do you feel the greatest sense of accomplishment?

 

A. ESG is a field where results are often highly visible. The efforts I put in are frequently reflected directly in evaluation scores, which makes the sense of achievement very tangible. In particular, when I see positive numerical outcomes from steadily advancing internal initiatives, I feel an even stronger sense of accomplishment.

 

 

Q. It seems ESG involves a lot of collaboration across departments. What is the atmosphere like within your team, and how do you typically go about your work?

 

A. Since the ESG team is responsible for collecting data and input required for ESG evaluations from across the company, we interact with various departments. Perhaps for that reason, the atmosphere within our own team tends to be quiet and highly focused. Meetings are held only when necessary and kept concise, while most of the time we concentrate individually on our respective tasks. There’s also a culture of mutual consideration that runs through the way we work.

Within the Corporate Planning Division, where several teams are grouped, daily interactions with other teams are relatively limited. Still, we build camaraderie through informal junior-level gatherings — having meals together or occasionally playing futsal.

 

Q. How do you usually spend your time after work?

 

A. I’m not the type to just sit still and rest. Even after work, I feel more at ease when I’m doing something active. These days, I usually end the day with fitness training or swimming. Since I’m still learning to swim, it feels even more enjoyable and rewarding.

Recently, I’ve also taken up knitting. The warm reactions I get when I give my creations as gifts motivate me to keep going.

 

 

 

Q. Did you recently take part in the Hyundai Motor Group’s mentoring program?

 

A. Yes, I participated as a mentor in the group’s environmental CSR initiative, “Happy Move.” In Uljin and Jincheon, we carried out activities focused on biodiversity protection, and we also plan to visit Geneva, Switzerland to learn from ESG-leading cities. Since the program goes beyond simple volunteer work to include benchmarking and idea-sharing, I believe it will be a very meaningful experience for me as an ESG professional.

 

Q. How do you envision the direction of your career going forward?

 

A. I want to further strengthen my expertise in ESG disclosure. As global disclosure standards continue to evolve rapidly, the ability to anticipate changes and design proactive strategies is becoming increasingly critical. For example, when Europe’s CSRD regulation made ESG disclosures mandatory, it immediately drew worldwide attention. More recently, however, the Omnibus proposal has shifted the framework toward a more flexible approach.

I am very interested in developing strategies that can respond to such external changes with agility. In the long term, I hope to broaden my role beyond ESG to include sustainability strategy development and company-wide policy proposals.

 

 

For me, work and the company are “the driving force that keeps me moving.”

 

 

 

Q. Lastly, if you were to define your work and company in a single phrase, what would it be?

 

A. For me, work and the company are “the driving force that keeps me moving.” ESG is a field that demands continuous learning and growth, and I feel it aligns perfectly with who I am. Looking ahead, I hope to keep contributing directly to Hyundai Transys’s sustainability as an ESG manager, while experiencing the tangible impact of my efforts. By continuing to learn and grow, I aim to develop together with the company.