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History
To become a transparent, righteous company

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!

    2024
    • 05

      Awarded the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award at the
      Korean Intellectual Property Office Commendations

    • 02

      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

    2023
    • 11

      Named the Best Company in ESG Governance
      by the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS)

    • 11

      Received the Presidential Commendation at the 2023 Mecenat Awards

    • 10

      Awarded the Prime Minister's Commendation on the 6th ‘Accounting Day’
      by the Financial Services Commission

    • 02

      Selected as an Outstanding Company (Leadership Grade) in Climate Change Response
      and Water Resource Management by the CDP Korea Committee

    • 01

      2023 Concluded KT&G-PMI Global Collaboration Contract

    • 01

      Established a corporation in Kazakhstan

    2022
    • 12

      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.’

    • 12

      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.

    • 11

      Launched ‘lil AIBLE’

    2021
    • 12

      KT&G is enhancing the ESG management system,
      as it is holding four major ISO certification

    • 05

      Established ‘2030 KT&G Green Impact’, an environmental management vision

    • 03

      Established a local subsidiary in Taiwan

    • 03

      Top in national tax KRW 300 billion for the 55th “Taxpayer’s Day”
      Awarded by Ministry of Economy and Finance

    2020
    • 12

      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)

    • 09

      Grand Opening of Sangsang Madang in Busan

    • 07

      Grand Opening of Sangsang Planet

    • 01

      Concluded KT&G-PMI global collaboration contract

    2019
    • 11

      Awarded ‘Korea Volunteer Grand Prize’ of United Nations Volunteers Korea
      by the Minister of National Defense

    • 10

      Selected as a Company with Excellent Governance Structure
      by the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS)

    • 07

      Commendation from the Minister of Employment and Labor
      for ‘Social Enterprise Promotion Merit’

    • 06

      Opened complex facilities (offices, shopping malls) in Sejong City

    2018
    • 12

      Awarded the Presidential Prize for ‘Contributing to Law and Order’ by the Ministry of Justice

    • 12

      Awarded the Prime Minister Prize as Family-friendly Company
      by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

    • 11

      Launched ‘lil HYBRID’

    • 02

      Last year, overseas sales exceeded 1 trillion won

    2017
    • 12

      Awarded for reaching the $800 million export target

    • 11

      Launched cigarette-type electronic cigarettes ‘lil’ and ‘Fit’

    • 06

      ‘Excellence in Gender Equality in the Employment’ - Ministry of Employment and Labor

    • 03

      ‘Grand Prize for Human Resources Development Management 2017’
      – Korea HRD (two consecutive years)

    • 01

      Merged into KT&G Life Science, YoungJin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    2016
    • 11

      ‘Excellent in Culture and Arts Patron’ - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

    • 11

      ‘Excellent in Work and Life Balance Support’ - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

    • 11

      Appreciation Plaque for Work and Life Balance Support’ - Ministry of Employment and Labor

    • 05

      Courtyard by Marriott, Opened Seoul Namdaemun Hotel

    • 03

      ‘Grand Prize for Human Resources Development Management 2016’ – Korea HRD

    2015
    • 12

      Acquired 'Family Friendly Company Certification' by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

    • 11

      ‘MESANA Grand Award’. Awarded by the President of Korea

    • 11

      Launched SangSang Stay

    • 10

      Establishment of Sangsang-realization Committee

    • 03

      ‘Training Facility Grand Award’. Awarded by Korea HRD

    2014
    • 11

      ‘The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award’.
      Awarded by the Korea Energy Agency for ‘The 36th Energy Saving Campaign’

    • 08

      ‘Global Frontier Grand Award’. Awarded by the Korean Academy of International Business

    • 04

      Grand opening of Sangsang Madang in Chuncheon City, Kangwon Province

    2013
    • 09

      Selected as a No. 1 company in the tobacco category of the
      National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI)

    • 07

      Developed low ignition point tobacco

    • 06

      Co-developed flavoring capsule for tobacco filters

    2012
    • 04

      Developed KT&G group’s CI

    • 03

      Launched KT&G Life Science

    • 03

      Launched KGC Yebon

    2011
    • 12

      Acquired Mazence (a new drug development venture company)

    • 08

      Began a quality responsibility system with real-name labeling

    • 07

      Acquired Trisakti (an Indonesian tobacco company)

    • 06

      Selected as the best corporation for corporate governance in 2011

    • 06

      Held building completion ceremony for Yeongil Ginseng plant

    • 06

      Acquired Somang Cosmetics

    • 06

      Grand Opening of Sangsang Madang in Nonsan

    • 04

      Signed an MOU on C1 (local production and distribution of red ginseng in China)

    2010
    • 11

      Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI)

    • 11

      Launched KGC Life & Gin

    • 10

      Completed construction of plant in Russia

    • 06

      Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement
      Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation

    2009
    • 06

      Selected as an honorary member of the best corporate governance practitioners
      by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement Support Center

    2008
    • 11

      Awarded for reaching the $400 million export target Received the Grand Award
      from the Korea Investors Relations Association

    • 07

      Established a local subsidiary in Russia

    • 04

      Completed development of the Türkiye factory

    • 02

      Established a local subsidiary in Iran

    2007
    • 11

      Received the Excellence Award from the Korea Investors Relations Association

    • 09

      Grand Opening of Sangsang Madang in Hongdae

    • 06

      Selected as an honorary member of the best corporate governance practitioners
      by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement Support Center

    2006
    • 11

      Received the Excellence Award from the Korea Investors Relations Association

    • 08

      Announced corporate mid- and long-term master plan

    • 08

      Earned a top-plus grade in corporate governance ratings
      by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement Support Center

    • 06

      Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance
      Improvement Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation
      (for three consecutive years)

    2005
    • 11

      Received the Presidential Award for employee job training from the Ministry of Labor

    • 11

      Received the Excellence Award from the Korea Investors Relations Association

    • 06

      Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement
      Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation
      (for two consecutive years)

    2004
    • 06

      Selected as the best corporation by the Korean Corporate Governance Improvement
      Support Center in its corporate governance performance evaluation

    • 05

      Acquired Tae-A Industry

    2003
    • 07

      Founded the KT&G Welfare Foundation

    • 07

      Established and proclaimed KT&G’s corporate governance charter

    • 06

      Completed construction of new Youngjoo plant

    • 02

      Proclaimed KT&G’s new CI

    2002
    • 12

      Changed the corporate name from Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corp. to KT&G Corporation

    • 10

      Sold all shares set aside for privatization
      (through overseas depositary receipt issues and share repurchases)

    • 06

      Completed domestic selloff of shares previously held by state-run banks

    • 03

      Established the KT&G Central Research Institute
      (by merging Korea Ginseng & Tobacco Research Institute)

  • KT&G, contributing to the national economy

    2001
    • 10

      Issued foreign securities (GDR and EB) and listed shares
      on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange

    2000
    • 11

      Received the best company award in the Customer Satisfaction Award
      and CEO Award from KMA Consultants Inc.

    1999
    • 12

      Selected as the best company in corporate informationization
      by the Ministry of Information and Communication

    • 10

      Listed on the Korea Stock Exchange

    • 09

      Completed modernization of Gwangju plant

    • 05

      Established and proclaimed a Customer Charter as part of its efforts
      to improve customer service

    • 01

      Launched Korea Ginseng Corporation, a subsidiary, to spin off its red ginseng business

    1998
    • 11

      Received the Presidential Award in the National Quality Management Competition

    1997
    • 10

      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

    1993
    • 07

      Changed the name from Korea Ginseng & Tobacco Research Center
      to Korea Ginseng & Tobacco Institute

    1989
    • 04

      Founded Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corp.

    1988
    • 07

      Opened the tobacco market

    1987
    • 04

      Founded the Korea Monopoly Corporation

  • KT&G performed a key role in starting tobacco history

    1983
    • 09

      Completed construction of Wonju plant

    1982
    • 09

      Completed construction of Cheonan plant

    1978
    • 08

      Completed domestic selloff of shares previously held by state-run banks

    1975
    • 11

      Completed construction of Gwangju plant

    1973
    • 07

      Completed construction of Gimcheon ingredient plant

    1970
    • 08

      Completed construction of Youngju plant

    1965
    • 07

      Completed construction of Shintanjin plant

    1952
    • 04

      Reorganized as a Monopoly Bureau

    1899
    • 08

      Formed Ginseng Division of Finance Department under the Ministry
      of the imperial household during the Korean Empire (36th year of King Gojong (1899)

    1883
    • Founded the Sunhwaguk

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