The Korean path? Corporate social responsibility and Korean transnational corporations in South Africa
Date
2016
Authors
Jeong, Da Un
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Abstract
This research is a conceptual inquiry into the orientation and practice of corporate social
responsibility (CSR) of Korean transnational corporations (TNCs) in South Africa.
Through a case study of Mana Technologies’ CSR programme, the research aims to
explore Korean TNCs’ conceptualisation of CSR and their rationale behind the
engagement in CSR initiatives. The research found that Korean corporations in South
Africa 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 of
TNCs globally. Notwithstanding some similarities with global CSR practices, a Korean path
to CSR seems to exist in South Africa. While the Korean CSR programmes in South Africa
are underpinned by rational motivation, they institutionalise individuals with seemingly
caring and genuine heart in the implementation of their CSR programmes. Thus, CSR
effectively becomes a mechanism to shift the image of Korean corporations from greedy
representatives of global capital to a caring corporate citizen genuinely committed to the
development of society.
Description
Thesis (M.A. (Development Studies))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, 2016
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Citation
Jeong, Da Un (2016) The Korean path? Corporate social responsibility and Korean transnational corporations in South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/21813>