ChosunBiz said on the 23rd that it selected and awarded 39 corporations and institutions at the "2025 National Contribution Awards." The National Contribution Awards recognize corporations and institutions that practice sustainable management through ESG (environmental, social and governance) management and contribute to national development through innovative technology development. This year marks the 12th edition.
The awards ceremony was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Garden Hotel in Mapo District, Seoul. Before the awards, a judging panel composed of experts and professors from related academia reviewed concrete outcomes such as the management, strategy, industry, organization, implementation, support, internal and external investment, and performance of the corporations and institutions. As a result, a total of 39 corporations and institutions were selected.
In the ESG management institutional sector, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance awards went to iM Financial Group and Genesis BBQ Group, respectively. Global Software Campus and Dain Leaders received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education awards in the education contribution institutional sector, while SmartCube, AST Holdings, and ZetaCube received the Minister of Science and ICT awards in the industrial development contribution institutional sector.
Gimhae-si Urban Development Corporation and Daejeon City Corporation received the Minister of the Interior and Safety awards in the ESG management institutional sector. Woosung received the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs award in the agriculture and livestock contribution institutional sector. Jeonnam Development Corporation in the community development institutional sector, Korea Southern Power (KOSPO) in the ESG management institutional sector, and CIS in the industrial development contribution institutional sector each received the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy awards.
Corporations receiving the Minister of Health and Welfare awards were BNK Financial Group, Usana Health Sciences Korea, and Kolmar BNH in the ESG management institutional sector, and NST Bio in the social contribution institutional sector. Corporations receiving the Minister of Environment awards in the ESG management institutional sector were the Seoul Water Recycling Corporation, Korea Miura, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.
Incheon Tourism Organization received the Minister of Employment and Labor award in the fair recruitment institutional sector; the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) received it in the labor-management advancement institutional sector; the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG) and Coway received it in the job creation institutional sector; and LIKELION received it in the professional workforce development institutional sector. The Minister of Gender Equality and Family awards in the low birthrate support institutional sector went to the Gyeongsangbuk-do Development Corporation, Daegu Transportation Corporation, and Yongin Urban Corporation.
Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Development Corporation received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport award in the ESG management institutional sector, and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation received the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries award in the ESG management institutional sector. Corporations receiving the Minister of SMEs and Startups awards in the industrial development contribution institutional sector were Muon System, LT Solution, and Palette.
Corporations receiving the Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety awards were Deepsonbio (industrial development contribution) and COK Company (social contribution). Corporations receiving the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership Chairperson awards were Hansot, Arcontek, and Starbucks Korea in the co-prosperity institutional sector, and Grammy in the win-win cooperation institutional sector.
Im Young-gyun, an honorary professor at Kwangwoon University who served as head judge, said, "Worsening polarization will deepen further in the new Industrial Revolution era as the ultra-technology gap based on artificial intelligence (AI) widens," adding, "I hope the exemplary, proper management activities of the awarded corporations and institutions become widely known and serve as a solid foundation for the development of the Republic of Korea and a healthy future."