“Pro bono cases are how we, as a firm, show that we care about more than just ourselves.”
– From TV series “Suits” Season 1, episode 1

 

If you are a fan of legal series, you might be familiar with the term “pro bono.” Originally, it referred to legal work service provided by lawyers free of charge to support individuals or organizations in need, promoting social justice and community welfare. Nowadays, pro bono has expanded beyond the legal field to various areas such as healthcare, education, business management, marketing, public relations, and IT support. Accordingly, the term is used to indicate specialist services provided by any professional voluntarily and free or charge to support a community, a group or an individual.

In 2009, SK Group became the first Korean conglomerate in South Korea to launch a business consulting volunteer group named “SK Probono” to support the growth of social enterprises while providing opportunities for its members to share experiences and professional skills. At present, it is the largest pro bono pool in South Korea. From the launch of SK Probono in 2009 until the end of last year, a total of 14,021 SK members have participated in volunteer consulting work for 2,965 companies in diverse approaches.

Specifically, this year, SK Innovation affiliates are collaborating with the SK Probono Office to operate pro bono activities more systematically. We spoke with Hong Hana, a CSR Manager at SK Innovation who oversees the company’s pro bono operation, to learn more about SK Innovation affiliates’ plans and activities related to skills-based volunteering and the meaning behind.

Q1. What makes SK Innovation’s pro bono activities this year different from before?

The key feature of SK Probono is its focus on social enterprises that give positive impact by considering various social values. By providing our members’ skills and experience to both existing and preliminary social enterprises, we support their stable growth and development, contributing to positive changes across society.

Members of SK Innovation affiliates voluntarily have been participating in SK Probono activities for a while. Previously, our members applied for and participated in pro bono activities individually. However, starting this year, we will strengthen collaboration between the SK Probono Office and SK Innovation affiliates to operate more systematically and proactive.

Consequently, in the first half of this year, more than 300 employees of SK Innovation affiliates have involved in pro bono activities. This is the highest number among SK member companies.

Q2. What are the positive impacts of SK Probono activities?

SK Probono activities act as a bridge between the members of SK Innovation affiliates and social enterprises, offering growth opportunities for both sides. The members can strengthen their work competency by engaging in solving social issues, and feel a sense of pride of their contribution to the social enterprises, which receive consultation from experienced professionals.

“SK Probono activities serve as a bridge, connecting the expertise of our members with the passion of social enterprises. This creates opportunities for growth for both the participating members and the social enterprises receiving the support. Our members can enhance their professional skills by engaging in social problem-solving, while also boosting their sense of pride by contributing to the growth of social enterprises.”

Social enterprises often lack resources such as manpower, infrastructure, specialized knowledge or technology. Therefore, when members from different fields within SK Innovation affiliates share their practical experience and professional expertise accumulated in their respective roles, and provide multifaceted guidance, they can significantly contribute to strengthening the business models and foundations of these enterprises. This, in turn, serves as meaningful support for the growth of these enterprises. Ultimately, both the participating members and the social enterprises grow and develop, leading to the creation of greater social value and positive outcomes.

Q3. How to join SK Probono and what types of activities are available?

Social enterprises and preliminary social enterprises can apply for consulting services through the official SK Probono website (https://www.skprobono.com) at any time. Based on the applications, the SK Probono Office selects target social enterprises for consulting and then recruits SK members to participate in pro bono activities through the intranet or other channels.

SK Probono’s activities can support the growth of businesses in various ways, as there are 23 consulting fields. These include law, tax/finance/accounting, public relations (PR) and marketing strategy, human resources (HR), and so on. The consulting services offered by SK Probono can be broadly categorized into four main types:

The first category is project-based consultation, where a group of pro bono professionals with specialized skills provides intensive and continuous support to social enterprises and preliminary social enterprises over a set period. Fields such as industrial fire safety and health safety, which require specialized skills and expertise, are exclusively handled through this type of consultation.

The second category is individual consultation, which pairs companies that have specific needs with professionals in the relevant fields as an one-on-one consulting.

The third category is usability testing, where the members remotely evaluate company’s new product or service and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. SK Innovation members test mobile apps, websites, and new or soon-to-be-released products created by social enterprises. The results are then shared with the enterprises, providing them with valuable insights for improving their services or products.

The last one is educational consultation, where members share their practical skills and expertise online with multiple social enterprises and preliminary social enterprises.

Q4. What are some of the notable SK Probono activities conducted by SK Innovation affiliates this year?

This year, as it marks the official start of SK Innovation affiliates’ pro bono activities, we are focusing on two types of consultations: project-based consultation and usability testing.

First, as a representative example of project-based consultation, SK Innovation’s Ulsan Complex (Ulsan CLX) is currently engaged in pro bono activities aimed at improving the safety environment of social enterprises in the Ulsan region. On June 11, Ulsan CLX held a launch ceremony for pro bono work for fire safety with the consulting target companies: Sanggae sheltered workshop for people with disabilities, Usisan, Marine Innovation, Jungin day care center for people with disabilitie, and Deobulup.

On June 11, SK Innovation’s Ulsan Complex held a launch ceremony for pro bono advisory work for fire safety at the main building of Ulsan CLX. Members of the Ulsan CLX and the social enterprises participating in pro bono activities are taking a commemorative photo

Starting from this point, Ulsan CLX plans to support the growth of a total of five social enterprises by providing comprehensive consultation services. This includes worker safety training, identification and elimination of risk factors in process equipment, and guidance on the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Act on the Safety Control of Hazardous Substances. Additionally, SK Innovation’s Institute of Environmental Science & Technology in Daejeon is set to launch a fire safety consultation group and a plastic recycling consultation group, with plans to begin full-scale support activities for social enterprises starting in the fourth quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, in the first half of this year, SK Innovation affiliates recruited members for usability testing across three different sessions. Each time an announcement for participation in the usability testing of social enterprise products was posted on the intranet, it quickly filled up due to the enthusiastic response from the members. Approximately 100 members per session, totaling around 300 members so far, have meticulously tested the products and services of social enterprises and provided thoughtful feedback for improvement. The social enterprises that received the consultations have expressed that the testing results from SK Innovation members have been extremely helpful, which made me proud as the coordinator. As the number of companies applying for usability testing continues to increase, we plan to continue these activities in the second half of the year.

Q5. Lastly, do you have any final remarks?

As mentioned earlier, SK Innovation affiliates are focusing on project-based consulting and usability testing this year. Given the vast range of skills and expertise our members possess, as well as their passion for solving social issues, we will do our utmost to support pro bono activities that align with each individual’s specialization.

In closing, I would like to ask for your continued interest and participation in SK Pro Bono activities, as we all work together to create a happier society for everyone. Stand together, make it better!