The Korean path? Corporate social responsibility and Korean transnational corporations in South Africa

[摘要] This research is a conceptual inquiry into the orientation and practice of corporate socialresponsibility (CSR) of Korean transnational corporations (TNCs) in South Africa.Through a case study of Mana Technologies’ CSR programme, the research aims toexplore Korean TNCs’ conceptualisation of CSR and their rationale behind theengagement in CSR initiatives. The research found that Korean corporations in SouthAfrica draw on the 'business case’ for CSR in their conceptualisation of CSR. Therefore,CSR orientation, policies and practice of Korean TNCs, to some extent, align with those ofTNCs globally. Notwithstanding some similarities with global CSR practices, a Korean pathto CSR seems to exist in South Africa. While the Korean CSR programmes in South Africaare underpinned by rational motivation, they institutionalise individuals with seeminglycaring and genuine heart in the implementation of their CSR programmes. Thus, CSReffectively becomes a mechanism to shift the image of Korean corporations from greedyrepresentatives of global capital to a caring corporate citizen genuinely committed to thedevelopment of society.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand