Why did KT&G win the 2026 Korea IR Awards grand prize?

KT&G was cited for maintaining an open IR culture in which executives explain strategy directly to investors. The company also folds investor feedback into management decisions and holds regular investor conferences, non-deal road shows and meetings with major domestic and international institutional investors.

How much did KT&G raise its interim dividend in August?

KT&G raised its interim dividend to 2,000 won per share in August. That was an increase of 600 won from a year earlier.

KT&G takes home top honor for excellence in investor relations

Q: When and where was the KT&G Korea IR Awards ceremony held?

The top accolade was handed out Friday at KRX Market Square in Seoul’s Yeouido financial district. Yoon Young-chan received the award from Korea Exchange Chairman Chung Eun-bo.

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Summary

KT&G was named the grand prize winner at the 2026 Korea IR Awards in Seoul on Friday. The award, presented as the Korea Exchange chairman’s prize, recognized the company’s investor relations work. KT&G was cited for an open IR culture, direct executive communication with investors, and regular meetings with domestic and overseas institutions. The company also raised its interim dividend to 2,000 won per share in August, up 600 won from a year earlier.

Key Facts

The Korea IR Service has presented the Korea IR Awards since 2001.
Yoon Young-chan, head of KT&G’s strategic planning division, accepted the award from Korea Exchange Chairman Chung Eun-bo.
KT&G was recognized for global business expansion, shareholder returns and growth investment discussions with investors, along with investor conferences and non-deal road shows.
KT&G raised its interim dividend to 2,000 won per share in August, which was 600 won higher than a year earlier.

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Published Sep 21, 2026 4:02 pm KST

Yoon Young-chan, right, head of KT&G's strategic planning division, poses with Korea Exchange Chairman Chung Eun-bo after receiving an award during the 2026 Korea IR Awards at KRX Market Square in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of KT&G

Korean tobacco and consumer goods company KT&G was named the grand prize winner at the 2026 Korea IR Awards, securing the top accolade presented by the Korea Exchange’s investor relations service, the company said Monday.

The award, presented as the Korea Exchange chairman's prize, was handed out Friday at KRX Market Square in Seoul's Yeouido financial district. Yoon Young-chan, head of KT&G's strategic planning division, accepted the award from Korea Exchange Chairman Chung Eun-bo.

The Korea IR Service has handed out the awards since 2001 to companies recognized for active, efficient investor relations work that supports capital-market development through shareholder-focused management.

KT&G was cited for an "open IR culture" in which executives present strategy directly to investors — on global business expansion, shareholder returns and growth investment — and fold investor feedback into management decisions, along with regular investor conferences, non-deal road shows and meetings with major domestic and international institutional investors.

The company raised its interim dividend to 2,000 won ($1.50) per share in August, a 600 won increase from a year earlier.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

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