ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosures have become a key information system reflecting sustainability management levels. On November 12, the Korea ESG Management Institute (KEMI) held the '2nd KEMI ESG Awards 2026' ceremony at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, recognizing nine companies and institutions for their outstanding performance based on international disclosure standards, data reliability, and stakeholder communication.
This year's KEMI ESG Awards were divided into two categories: Sustainability Reports and Co-Growth. In the Sustainability Reports category, one company received the Grand Prize, two received Excellence Awards, and four received Merit Awards. In the Co-Growth category, two companies were honored with Excellence Awards.
The evaluation for the Sustainability Reports category focused on how systematically and verifiably the reports conveyed actual ESG management performance, rather than just design or information volume. The Co-Growth category assessed whether support for partner companies led to tangible improvements and quality job creation.
As a result of the evaluations, Kia was awarded the Grand Prize in the Sustainability Reports category. Kia has broadly applied various international disclosure standards, including GRI, ESRS, ISSB, SASB, TCFD, and TNFD, systematically disclosing key ESG issues such as climate, nature, supply chain, and human rights based on materiality.
Kia was particularly recognized for clearly communicating its unique ESG vision and strategy to stakeholders, as well as for transparently reporting its Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, performance against targets, shortcomings, and negative impacts.
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) and IS Dongseo received Excellence Awards.
KOTRA applied a wide range of standards, including GRI, SASB, TCFD, K-ESG, UNGC, and ISO 26000, and underwent third-party verification. Its stakeholder communication, materiality assessment, TCFD disclosures, and three-year quantitative performance management were particularly noted among public institutions.
IS Dongseo presented a systematic disclosure based on GRI and TCFD's four pillars, along with key ESG performance indicators (KPIs) and achievement levels, reflecting its diverse business characteristics in construction, concrete, environment, and secondary batteries. It received praise for its goal management and transparency regarding negative impacts.
Hansae Co., Stick Investment, Kyungnong, and Jobi received Merit Awards.
Hansae Co. established an ESG data system encompassing global production subsidiaries and international standard indices, while Stick Investment was recognized for its responsible investment and climate change response tailored to its investment company characteristics.
Kyungnong and Jobi, despite being in the early stages of publishing sustainability reports, were noted for establishing a double materiality assessment and a reporting system based on GRI and ISSB, laying a foundation for ESG information disclosure.
In the Co-Growth category, the Excellence Awards went to the National Information Society Agency (NIA) and Sebang Battery.
NIA achieved an upgrade in its co-growth evaluation for two consecutive years and was recognized for its diversity hiring goals and performance management system at the CEO level, demonstrating excellent results in cooperative collaboration and sustainable organizational management.
Sebang Battery operates a stable payment system based on fair transactions with partner companies and has introduced ESG evaluations for partners, establishing a management foundation for supply chain sustainability. It continues efforts to improve employment quality through job stability and regular employment transitions, contributing to the creation of a sustainable industrial ecosystem through cooperative collaboration.
Lee Han-sung, the head of KEMI, stated, "ESG information disclosure has evolved beyond merely listing activities to showing how companies and institutions set goals and manage performance and limitations based on data. It is crucial to transparently disclose not only the application of international disclosure standards but also data reliability, stakeholder participation, and performance against targets, including negative impacts."
He added, "Through the KEMI ESG Awards, we will continuously identify best practices across industries and institutions and provide practical standards and directions for domestic companies and public institutions to systematically respond to the changing global ESG disclosure environment."
The Korea ESG Management Institute is an ESG management specialist organization authorized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, providing professional services across the entire spectrum of ESG management, including sustainability strategy, ESG disclosure, supply chain response, evaluation, and third-party verification. Since last year, it has operated the 'KEMI ESG Awards' to promote the spread of sustainable management among domestic companies and public institutions. The first awards focused primarily on sustainability reports, while this year's second awards expanded to include the new Co-Growth category, creating two distinct categories.
This year's KEMI ESG Awards were divided into two categories: Sustainability Reports and Co-Growth. In the Sustainability Reports category, one company received the Grand Prize, two received Excellence Awards, and four received Merit Awards. In the Co-Growth category, two companies were honored with Excellence Awards.
The evaluation for the Sustainability Reports category focused on how systematically and verifiably the reports conveyed actual ESG management performance, rather than just design or information volume. The Co-Growth category assessed whether support for partner companies led to tangible improvements and quality job creation.
As a result of the evaluations, Kia was awarded the Grand Prize in the Sustainability Reports category. Kia has broadly applied various international disclosure standards, including GRI, ESRS, ISSB, SASB, TCFD, and TNFD, systematically disclosing key ESG issues such as climate, nature, supply chain, and human rights based on materiality.
Kia was particularly recognized for clearly communicating its unique ESG vision and strategy to stakeholders, as well as for transparently reporting its Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, performance against targets, shortcomings, and negative impacts.
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) and IS Dongseo received Excellence Awards.
KOTRA applied a wide range of standards, including GRI, SASB, TCFD, K-ESG, UNGC, and ISO 26000, and underwent third-party verification. Its stakeholder communication, materiality assessment, TCFD disclosures, and three-year quantitative performance management were particularly noted among public institutions.
IS Dongseo presented a systematic disclosure based on GRI and TCFD's four pillars, along with key ESG performance indicators (KPIs) and achievement levels, reflecting its diverse business characteristics in construction, concrete, environment, and secondary batteries. It received praise for its goal management and transparency regarding negative impacts.
Hansae Co., Stick Investment, Kyungnong, and Jobi received Merit Awards.
Hansae Co. established an ESG data system encompassing global production subsidiaries and international standard indices, while Stick Investment was recognized for its responsible investment and climate change response tailored to its investment company characteristics.
Kyungnong and Jobi, despite being in the early stages of publishing sustainability reports, were noted for establishing a double materiality assessment and a reporting system based on GRI and ISSB, laying a foundation for ESG information disclosure.
In the Co-Growth category, the Excellence Awards went to the National Information Society Agency (NIA) and Sebang Battery.
NIA achieved an upgrade in its co-growth evaluation for two consecutive years and was recognized for its diversity hiring goals and performance management system at the CEO level, demonstrating excellent results in cooperative collaboration and sustainable organizational management.
Sebang Battery operates a stable payment system based on fair transactions with partner companies and has introduced ESG evaluations for partners, establishing a management foundation for supply chain sustainability. It continues efforts to improve employment quality through job stability and regular employment transitions, contributing to the creation of a sustainable industrial ecosystem through cooperative collaboration.
Lee Han-sung, the head of KEMI, stated, "ESG information disclosure has evolved beyond merely listing activities to showing how companies and institutions set goals and manage performance and limitations based on data. It is crucial to transparently disclose not only the application of international disclosure standards but also data reliability, stakeholder participation, and performance against targets, including negative impacts."
He added, "Through the KEMI ESG Awards, we will continuously identify best practices across industries and institutions and provide practical standards and directions for domestic companies and public institutions to systematically respond to the changing global ESG disclosure environment."
The Korea ESG Management Institute is an ESG management specialist organization authorized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, providing professional services across the entire spectrum of ESG management, including sustainability strategy, ESG disclosure, supply chain response, evaluation, and third-party verification. Since last year, it has operated the 'KEMI ESG Awards' to promote the spread of sustainable management among domestic companies and public institutions. The first awards focused primarily on sustainability reports, while this year's second awards expanded to include the new Co-Growth category, creating two distinct categories.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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