ECONINE Achieves ISO/IEC 42001 Certification for Its AI Management System

SEOUL, South Korea, September 30, 2026, ECONINE, a specialist sustainability advisory firm led by CEO Uk Seo, has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its artificial intelligence management system. The independent audit examined how the firm governs the use of AI in its advisory work, including accountability for the resulting outputs.

ISO/IEC 42001 is the international management system standard for organisations that develop, provide or use AI. It does not certify the performance of an AI model. It examines the purpose for which AI is used, how risks are identified and addressed, who is accountable, and how the system is reviewed and improved.

The certification scope is: "Operation of an AI-based knowledge system and ESG assessment (EcoVadis) and disclosure advisory services." ECONINE is certified in its role as an AI user, covering how it manages AI use within this scope.

Sustainability advisory work calls for interpretation of standards, examination of company evidence and professional judgement across competing facts. ECONINE uses AI within this process, but its specialists review the outputs and remain accountable for final decisions.

For clients, the relevant question is not simply whether an adviser uses AI. It is how that use is controlled and who stands behind the result. The certification provides an external reference point for assessing how ECONINE manages errors, information risks and the review of AI-assisted work.

"Using AI does not in itself improve the quality of advice. Clients need evidence they can examine, and a specialist must remain accountable for the final judgement. We see this certification as a starting point for keeping that principle in practice," said Uk Seo, CEO of ECONINE and ISO/IEC 42001 auditor.

ECONINE is a sustainability specialist, not an AI developer. The significance of the certification is that the firm has brought its use of AI, alongside the judgement and experience developed in sustainability practice, within an internationally recognised management system. ECONINE will continue its internal audits and management reviews as the system develops. The priority remains the accuracy and explainability of the advice delivered to clients, rather than the convenience of the technology itself.

Original announcement: https://econine.kr/en/news-iso42001

About ECONINE

ECONINE is a specialist sustainability advisory firm based in Seoul, South Korea. It helps companies interpret assessment and disclosure requirements in the context of their evidence and operations, and design sustainability management systems that organisations can use in practice.

Website: https://econine.kr/en