'2025 Korea KOSDAQ Awards'... Nextin Wins Top Honor

The KOSDAQ Association announced on November 25 that it held the 17th Korea KOSDAQ Awards ceremony.

The Korea KOSDAQ Awards has been elevated to the Prime Minister's Award since 2022 and is co-hosted by the KOSDAQ Association and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Final awardees are selected through both quantitative evaluations-such as business performance, market contribution, technology development, ESG management, and job creation activities-and qualitative assessments, including on-site company due diligence and CEO interviews.

The selection committee consists of experts from academia and related organizations. Applications were received from companies between June 25 and August 11. Award-winning companies in each category were selected based on outstanding performance demonstrated through document screening and on-site inspections.

The highest honor, the Prime Minister's Award, went to Nextin. Nextin is a specialized technology company that manufactures wafer micro-pattern defect inspection equipment, providing total inspection solutions throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process, and supplies inspection equipment to global semiconductor companies.

The Minister of SMEs and Startups Award was given to Komico, the Chairman of the Financial Services Commission Award went to Vitzrocell, and the Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service Award was presented to TES. In addition, ST Pharm, CIS, and ISC received the Chairman of Korea Exchange Award.

The KOSDAQ Association President's Awards were presented as follows: Icecream Media for Next-Generation Company, Eugene Technology and Vieworks for Technology Development Company, EuBiologics and MRO for Job Creation Company, and Mekaro for ESG Company.

Lee Donghoon, President of the KOSDAQ Association, stated, "We will continue to discover outstanding KOSDAQ-listed companies that shine in the KOSDAQ market and strive to enhance investor trust and the value of the KOSDAQ brand."

Park Taehoon, CEO of Nextin, commented, "It is a great honor to receive the Prime Minister's Award, and we will do our utmost to grow as a leading KOSDAQ-listed company."

Award-winning companies will receive several benefits, including additional points in governance evaluations during periodic auditor designation reviews, a one-year exemption from additional and amended listing fees at the Korea Exchange, and complimentary participation in KOSDAQ Association training programs.

The awards ceremony was attended by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hakyoung, Korea Exchange Vice Chairman Min Kyungwook, Director General of Venture Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Kim Bongdeok, and Financial Supervisory Service Deputy Governor Lee Seungwoo.