Vigorous steps! The history of KT&G
Check out KT&G’s history
and see how it has grown into a Global Top-Tier Company.
Making a leap to become a Golbal Top-tier company,
spreading throughout the world!
Awarded the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award at the
Korean Intellectual Property Office Commendations
Awarded the Grand Prize in the Water Security Category at the CDP Korea Awards Awarded
the Honors award for the Carbon Management Sector in the Climate Change Category
Named the Best Company in ESG Governance
by the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS)
Received the Presidential Commendation at the 2023 Mecenat Awards
Awarded the Prime Minister's Commendation on the 6th ‘Accounting Day’
by the Financial Services Commission
Selected as an Outstanding Company (Leadership Grade) in Climate Change Response
and Water Resource Management by the CDP Korea Committee
2023 Concluded KT&G-PMI Global Collaboration Contract
Established a corporation in Kazakhstan
the Ministry of Employment and Labor bestowed upon them the prestigious
Presidential Commendation Award for their exceptional contribution
to the ‘Job Creation Merit Government Award.’
Awarded the Prime Minister's Commendation in the ESG category for their
outstanding performance in the ‘2022 Government Award for Sustainable Management Merit’,
conferred by the Korea Productivity Center.
Launched ‘lil AIBLE’
KT&G is enhancing the ESG management system,
as it is holding four major ISO certification
Established ‘2030 KT&G Green Impact’, an environmental management vision
Established a local subsidiary in Taiwan
Top in national tax KRW 300 billion for the 55th “Taxpayer’s Day”
Awarded by Ministry of Economy and Finance
Commendation from the director of the Korean Intellectual Property Office for
‘Intellectual Property Business Company of the Year’
by the Korea Intellectual Property Association (KINPA)
Grand Opening of Sangsang Madang in Busan
Grand Opening of Sangsang Planet
Concluded KT&G-PMI global collaboration contract
Awarded ‘Korea Volunteer Grand Prize’ of United Nations Volunteers Korea
by the Minister of National Defense
Selected as a Company with Excellent Governance Structure
by the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS)
Commendation from the Minister of Employment and Labor
for ‘Social Enterprise Promotion Merit’
Opened complex facilities (offices, shopping malls) in Sejong City
Awarded the Presidential Prize for ‘Contributing to Law and Order’ by the Ministry of Justice
Awarded the Prime Minister Prize as Family-friendly Company
by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
Launched ‘lil HYBRID’
Last year, overseas sales exceeded 1 trillion won
Awarded for reaching the $800 million export target
Launched cigarette-type electronic cigarettes ‘lil’ and ‘Fit’
‘Excellence in Gender Equality in the Employment’ - Ministry of Employment and Labor
‘Grand Prize for Human Resources Development Management 2017’
– Korea HRD (two consecutive years)
Merged into KT&G Life Science, YoungJin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
‘Excellent in Culture and Arts Patron’ - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
‘Excellent in Work and Life Balance Support’ - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Appreciation Plaque for Work and Life Balance Support’ - Ministry of Employment and Labor
Courtyard by Marriott, Opened Seoul Namdaemun Hotel
‘Grand Prize for Human Resources Development Management 2016’ – Korea HRD
Acquired 'Family Friendly Company Certification' by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
‘MESANA Grand Award’. Awarded by the President of Korea
Launched SangSang Stay
Establishment of Sangsang-realization Committee
‘Training Facility Grand Award’. Awarded by Korea HRD
‘The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award’.
Awarded by the Korea Energy Agency for ‘The 36th Energy Saving Campaign’
‘Global Frontier Grand Award’. Awarded by the Korean Academy of International Business
Grand opening of Sangsang Madang in Chuncheon City, Kangwon Province
Selected as a No. 1 company in the tobacco category of the
National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI)
Developed low ignition point tobacco
Co-developed flavoring capsule for tobacco filters
Developed KT&G group’s CI
Launched KT&G Life Science
Launched KGC Yebon
Acquired Mazence (a new drug development venture company)
Began a quality responsibility system with real-name labeling
Acquired Trisakti (an Indonesian tobacco company)
Selected as the best corporation for corporate governance in 2011
Held building completion ceremony for Yeongil Ginseng plant
Acquired Somang Cosmetics
Grand Opening of Sangsang Madang in Nonsan
Signed an MOU on C1 (local production and distribution of red ginseng in China)
Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI)
Launched KGC Life & Gin
Completed construction of plant in Russia
Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement
Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation
Selected as an honorary member of the best corporate governance practitioners
by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement Support Center
Awarded for reaching the $400 million export target Received the Grand Award
from the Korea Investors Relations Association
Established a local subsidiary in Russia
Completed development of the Türkiye factory
Established a local subsidiary in Iran
Received the Excellence Award from the Korea Investors Relations Association
Grand Opening of Sangsang Madang in Hongdae
Selected as an honorary member of the best corporate governance practitioners
by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement Support Center
Received the Excellence Award from the Korea Investors Relations Association
Announced corporate mid- and long-term master plan
Earned a top-plus grade in corporate governance ratings
by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement Support Center
Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance
Improvement Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation
(for three consecutive years)
Received the Presidential Award for employee job training from the Ministry of Labor
Received the Excellence Award from the Korea Investors Relations Association
Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement
Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation
(for two consecutive years)
Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement
Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation
Acquired Tae-A Industry
Founded the KT&G Welfare Foundation
Established and proclaimed KT&G’s corporate governance charter
Completed construction of new Youngjoo plant
Proclaimed KT&G’s new CI
Changed the corporate name from Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corp. to KT&G Corporation
Sold all shares set aside for privatization
(through overseas depositary receipt issues and share repurchases)
Completed domestic selloff of shares previously held by state-run banks
Established the KT&G Central Research Institute
(by merging Korea Ginseng & Tobacco Research Institute)
KT&G, contributing to the national economy
Issued foreign securities (GDR and EB) and listed shares
on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange
Received the best company award in the Customer Satisfaction Award
and CEO Award from KMA Consultants Inc.
Selected as the best company in corporate informationization
by the Ministry of Information and Communication
Listed on the Korea Stock Exchange
Completed modernization of Gwangju plant
Established and proclaimed a Customer Charter as part of its efforts
to improve customer service
Launched Korea Ginseng Corporation, a subsidiary, to spin off its red ginseng business
Received the Presidential Award in the National Quality Management Competition
Changed to a stock company on the commercial law according to the Commercial Law
by the Act on the Improvement of Managerial Structure and Privatization of Public Enterprises
Changed the name from Korea Ginseng & Tobacco Research Center
to Korea Ginseng & Tobacco Institute
Founded Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corp.
Opened the tobacco market
Founded the Korea Monopoly Corporation
KT&G performed a key role in starting tobacco history
Completed construction of Wonju plant
Completed construction of Cheonan plant
Completed domestic selloff of shares previously held by state-run banks
Completed construction of Gwangju plant
Completed construction of Gimcheon ingredient plant
Completed construction of Youngju plant
Completed construction of Shintanjin plant
Reorganized as a Monopoly Bureau
Formed Ginseng Division of Finance Department under the Ministry
of the imperial household during the Korean Empire (36th year of King Gojong (1899)
Founded the Sunhwaguk