From left to right: HC Lim (Member of the Evaluation for the Award, CCEJ), YJ Kwon (The Chief Director, CCEJ), CK Kang (General Manager , CCEJ), OS Kang (General Manager, IPK), YY Kim (The Head of Sales, IPK), HC Hwang, Chairperson of the Evaluation for the Award, CCEJ), DY Lee (Secretary-General, CCEJ)

International Paint (Korea) has received the prestigious 2009 ‘Best Foreign Corporation’ Award from Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, a non-government organisation in Korea.

The award has been given annually since 2001 to recognise achievement and high moral standards among foreign corporations operating in Korea. To qualify, companies should have a foreign investment of more than $6 million in value and greater than 51% foreign shareholdings.  Sales turnover should also be above 50 billion Korean Won (about $50 million). If the company meets these criteria then it is examined in respect of:

• Compliance with the law
• Code of conduct
• Performance
• Contribution to local society

Normally awards are made each year to two companies in the manufacturing industry and two companies from non-manufacturing, but this year only one award was made, and that was presented to International Paint Korea. The company received particular recognition for its CSR activities, business principles and product stewardship.

It is the first time the award has been given to a paint or chemical industry company. Previous awardees having included IBM Korea, Volvo Korea, 3M Korea, Yahoo Korea, Fuji Xerox Korea and Samsung Tesco.

On accepting the award, International Paint Korea’s President OS Kang said, “I was honoured and particularly proud that such recognition was being given by a purely non-government organisation.”  He also acknowledged the help and support of International Paint Korea employees and customers in making it the respectable, healthy company it is.

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