Shareholder proposal rights in Korea: Activating shareholder participation for transparent corporate governance.
Shareholder proposal rights allow minority shareholders to suggest agenda items at shareholder meetings, improving communication between companies and shareholders. This system encourages participation and oversight of majority shareholders or executives. In South Korea, despite having these rights for 20 years, they are underutilized, mainly by small shareholders due to procedural limitations and inadequate remedies for unfair rejections. Enhancing the eligibility criteria, extending the proposal period, expanding the target audience, and improving remedies for unfair rejections can activate shareholder proposals. These proposals are essential for conveying shareholder opinions to management and refreshing perspectives, ultimately enhancing corporate transparency and competitiveness.