'PonyJeong Young Leader' First Awardee Selected as Kim Seul-ah, CEO of Kurly

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Seul-ah, CEO of Kurly Co., Ltd. and founder of Market Kurly, has been selected as the first recipient of the newly established 'Pony Jung Young Leader Award' by the Pony Jung Foundation this year.

On the 28th, the Pony Jung Foundation held the 'Pony Jung Young Leader Award' ceremony at Pony Jung Hall in I'Park Tower, Samseong-dong, Seoul, and announced on the 29th that CEO Kim was presented with a plaque and a prize of 50 million KRW.

The Pony Jung Foundation established the Pony Jung Innovation Award in 2006, named after the nickname 'Pony Jung (PONY 鄭)' of the late Chung Se-young, founder of Hyundai Motor Company and Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Development Company. This year, it newly created the 'Young Leader Award' to discover and support young innovators. Although the Young Leader Award is not limited to any specific field, the age limit is set under 40 years old to align with the purpose of discovering young innovators.

As the inaugural recipient, CEO Kim is recognized for introducing the concept of 7-day early morning delivery for the first time in the domestic distribution industry and leading trends in the distribution sector by emphasizing eco-friendly management and win-win management.

She has drawn attention by replacing packaging materials such as tape, vinyl, and styrofoam used in early morning delivery with recyclable paper materials, and by making efforts for mutual growth with partner suppliers through 100% direct purchasing and a no-return policy.

Thanks to Market Kurly's growth, CEO Kim has also contributed to nurturing the next generation as the chairperson of the Korea Startup Forum since February this year. CEO Kim said in her acceptance speech, "I will strive even harder so that young challengers of our time who work for a better world can be recognized."

Kim Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Pony Jung Foundation, said, "The Pony Jung Young Leader Award is the second Pony Jung Innovation Award, intended to encourage young leaders who will lead the future of our time," and added, "We will continue to discover and award exemplary cases that serve as role models for youth."