0
An exterior view of the SK Telecom headquarters. / Courtesy of SKT

SK Telecom (SKT) is teaming up with Japan's SoftBank and the Center for Social Value Enhancement Studies (CSES) to measure the social value created by artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) services, with plans to develop a globally applicable evaluation framework.

The telecom operator announced on July 9 that the three organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the SKT Tower in Euljiro, Seoul, to measure social value and strengthen mutual collaboration. The signing ceremony was attended by Eom Jong-hwan, head of sustainability management at SKT; Na Seok-kwon, CEO of CSES; and Genda Yasuyuki, corporate head of SoftBank.

SKT explained that the partnership was driven by the recognition that AI creates new types of social value—not only by boosting productivity but also by strengthening social safety nets, fostering digital inclusion, and enhancing customer convenience.

Under the agreement, the three partners will leverage their accumulated expertise to measure the social value generated by each company's AI and ICT products and services. Crucially, they aim to jointly develop a standardized measurement methodology that can be used globally. To help expand this framework across international markets, including South Korea and Japan, the entities agreed to cooperate on case studies, joint reports, and international forums.

This agreement marks an expansion of their initial partnership formed in April 2024, through which they have collaborated on measurement workshops and case presentations. Notably, the partners calculated and disclosed SoftBank's social value performance last year, conducting a comparative analysis against SKT’s metrics.

"We are at a point where we need an objective framework that can clearly measure and explain both the social utility and the challenges created by AI," said Eom Jong-hwan, head of sustainability management at SKT. "Through this agreement, we will actively push forward with the development of a standard measurement methodology tailored to the AI era."

                                                                                                              Choi In-kyu