KG Group marks 41st anniversary with official launch of KG Mobility Platform

KG Group officially launched KG Mobility Platform — built around the used-car platform K Car — as a new member of the group on its 41st anniversary, aiming to broaden its mobility business by combining vehicle manufacturing with used-car retail and platform operations.

The group held its 41st anniversary ceremony Saturday at KBS Art Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, with about 1,000 employees, their families, scholarship recipients and partner company representatives in attendance, the group announced Monday. KG Group's official founding anniversary falls on Sept. 1.

The event looked back on four decades of expansion across automobiles, steel, chemicals, finance, media, education and culture, and outlined the group's growth direction for the next 10 years.

The highlight was the formal launch of KG Mobility Platform. KG Group acquired K Car — South Korea's largest directly operated used-car platform — this year and has positioned it as a pillar of its integrated mobility strategy. Following its incorporation into the group, K Car was relaunched under the name KG Mobility Platform.

At the ceremony, the nameplate of KG Mobility Platform was placed in the group's family-company nameplate case and a company flag was presented to mark the occasion.

KG Group plans to connect KGM's finished-vehicle manufacturing operations with used-car distribution and software and platform capabilities. In June, the group unveiled a medium- to long-term strategy centered on the K Car acquisition to build an integrated mobility ecosystem linking manufacturing, distribution, finance and payments.

Employee awards were also presented. Baek Min-jae, executive director and head of the materials and environment business division at KG Chemical, was named this year's "Proud KG Person of the Year."

Baek oversees three business units, six sales teams and a research institute under the materials and environment division. He was recognized particularly for strengthening the competitiveness of the PNS concrete admixture business and expanding its export reach to about 50 countries, as well as generating 27 billion won ($19.6 million) in sales in the first year of a new product distribution business.

His collaborative work with affiliates including KG Steel and KG Eco Solution was also cited as a factor in the award. Separately, 19 employees selected from across the group's affiliates received the "2026 KG Outstanding Employee Award."

A corporate social responsibility event was also held. The Seonhyeon Foundation, KG Group's scholarship foundation, presented scholarship certificates and grants to 10 children of firefighters. The foundation has operated its scholarship program since 2007 and has supported more than 1,300 students to date.

The second half of the event featured a concert with direct participation from employees and their families. Performers included the KGM Vocal Ensemble, made up of KGM employees; the 2026 KG Choir, with about 40 employees from across the group's affiliates; and the KG Philharmonic Orchestra.

KG Group has been concentrating investment in its mobility business. Earlier this month, KGM secured a $75 million strategic investment from China's Chery Automobile, with the two companies agreeing to expand cooperation beyond joint vehicle development to include software-defined vehicles, autonomous driving, robotics and automotive semiconductors.

Going forward, KG Group plans to strengthen the competitiveness of its existing businesses — including automobiles, steel and chemicals — while nurturing the mobility platform and other new ventures as next-generation growth engines.

"I am deeply grateful to the employees who have quietly dedicated themselves in their respective roles, and to the families who have supported us with trust," KG Group Chairman Kwak Jae-sun said in his commemorative address. "Based on the 41 years of trust and challenge we have built together, let us pool our wisdom and passion to vigorously open a new decade toward becoming a 100-year company."