The WMEC 2026 awards ceremony
SK hynix has been named one of the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies® (WMEC) by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Following its landmark recognition last year as the first Korean semiconductor company to receive the honor, SK hynix has now earned the distinction for a second consecutive year—reaffirming the sustainability and credibility of its ethical management framework on the world stage.
This year, only 138 companies across 40 industries in 17 countries were selected, with just five semiconductor companies making the list worldwide. Among them, SK hynix was the sole Korean company. Notably, despite significantly tightened evaluation criteria this year, SK hynix achieved a higher score than in the previous year—demonstrating that its commitment to ethical management has evolved from aspiration to proven capability.
Beyond the Numbers: A More Rigorous Standard of Evaluation
Ethisphere is a globally recognized authority in defining and advancing corporate ethics standards. The organization evaluates companies each year using its proprietary Ethics Quotient® to determine the WMEC honorees. Participating companies must submit supporting documentation for over 240 detailed questions measuring their ethical management systems and compliance programs, with final selections made following rigorous review by a panel of expert evaluators.
The evaluation framework evolves every year, and this year’s criteria were notably more demanding than before. While previous assessments largely asked whether companies had specific ethical management systems in place (Y/N), this year’s evaluation required detailed evidence of how initiatives are planned, how execution processes are structured, and how their effectiveness is evaluated. While many companies struggled with the heightened standards, SK hynix not only passed the assessment but did so with a score higher than the year before.
The most significant improvement was in the area of ethical management support and oversight for business partners. SK hynix has been steadily expanding a shared understanding of ethical management with its business partners in pursuit of mutual growth. The company proactively identifies business partner needs through regular anonymous surveys and has strengthened sustainable, trust-based partnerships through its on-site counseling program.
Thorough preparation also played a key role. By proactively analyzing the latest global trends and the state of ethical management among leading companies—and addressing any gaps in advance—SK hynix was well positioned to respond with agility to newly introduced evaluation criteria. Its efforts to develop training programs to enhance internal audit expertise, as well as the adoption of AI and digital technology for ethics violation prevention and monitoring, also contributed positively to its evaluation.
“We have been carrying out all our ethical management activities with genuine commitment, which enabled us to provide concrete evidence and effectively respond to the new evaluation criteria,” said an SK hynix official.
What Two Consecutive Years Really Means: Year One Was the Challenge; Year Two Is the Proof
According to the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), there are approximately 50,000 listed companies globally, and the WMEC evaluation also includes non-profit organizations. Among this vast pool, the average number of companies named to the WMEC over the past three years stands at just 136—making the recognition itself an indicator of a world-class ethical management capability.
Nor can companies afford to rest on their laurels after a single selection. With evaluation standards growing more stringent each year, several companies recognized last year were dropped from this year’s list. This underscores the difficulty of consistently meeting rising global ethical management benchmarks for companies that must also prioritize shareholder value and profitability. For Asian companies, the challenge is even greater, as Ethisphere’s U.S.-based framework requires navigating additional cultural and environmental considerations.
Against this backdrop, SK hynix’s back-to-back WMEC selections demonstrate that the company’s ethical management framework has evolved into a sustainable system of proven universality and excellence. Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer and Board Chair—who presented the award plaque to SK hynix for the second consecutive year—remarked: “This year’s honorees continue to raise the bar for ethical business practices by embedding ethical awareness into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. I am confident in the long-term success of these organizations, which have built strong ethics and compliance programs supported by robust governance.”
Driven by Strong Leadership Commitment: Making Ethical Management a Way of Life
The WMEC recognition was made possible by the strong commitment of the company’s leadership to ethical management, as well as the dedicated efforts of all employees who have consistently put it into practice. Following the announcement, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung shared a message on the company’s intranet, expressing his congratulations and appreciation. He noted, “Leading the global memory market with our technology and products while also earning world-class recognition in ethical management is the result of each and every employee practicing responsible conduct in the field, grounded in a philosophy of transparent management,” and encouraged employees to continue fulfilling their ethical responsibilities in their respective roles going forward.
As technological change and the investment landscape undergo rapid transformation—and the consequences of individual judgment increasingly intersect with risk—the role of ethical management is expected to become even more critical. Earned at such a pivotal moment, this WMEC recognition is expected to serve as yet another seed for the future, further strengthening SK hynix’s competitive edge as a new source of organizational resilience.
“Just as a healthy body is not built overnight, the level of ethical management is the product of daily accumulation,” said an SK hynix ethics management official. “We will continue to do our best to ensure that ethical management becomes an ingrained part of our culture, serving as the foundation for the company to earn lasting trust—both internally and externally.”
