Kang Seokjin, Chairman of KOSME, Receives the Sustainable Management Quality Award

Recognized for Setting a New Standard in ESG Management for Public Institutions

The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) announced on May 2 that Chairman Kang Seokjin received the "Sustainable Management Quality Award" at the 2025 Spring Academic Conference hosted by the Korean Society for Quality Management.

The Sustainable Management Quality Award is presented to business leaders in domestic companies or public institutions who have achieved outstanding results in the areas of Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance (G) through sustainable management practices. This award, newly established this year by the Korean Society for Quality Management, is the highest honor in the field of sustainable management quality.

Chairman Kang was recognized for his leadership in promoting sustainable growth with SMEs and startups, for presenting four key strategic directions to proactively address future challenges, and for introducing field-oriented communication initiatives such as "KOSME on the Move," which identifies and addresses business difficulties. Through these efforts, he set a new standard for ESG management in public institutions.

In particular, he received high praise for incorporating ESG management into the agency's mid- to long-term strategic framework and operating initiatives such as the "ESG Management Committee" to enhance the execution of sustainable management. Additionally, by developing KOSME's own ESG index, he established a more systematic foundation for performance management.

Furthermore, KOSME is engaged in a variety of activities to promote ESG management both within the organization and across the SME sector. These include: practicing eco-friendly carbon neutrality; fulfilling social responsibilities tailored to the agency's characteristics; improving trust through integrity initiatives; supporting responses to global regulations such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM); building collaborative systems between large and small businesses and promoting regional development; and strengthening the transparency and fairness of policy projects.

Chairman Kang stated, "KOSME has continuously strived for progress to realize our vision of creating sustainable future value together with SMEs and startups. This award is the result of all executives and employees working together to consider and implement ESG management. We will continue to be a partner for the sustainable growth of SMEs and startups."