KT&G wins minister's award at leisure-friendly company certification ceremony

KT&G said Tuesday it received a minister's award at the 2026 Leisure-Friendly Management Company and Institution Certification Ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday.

The leisure-friendly management awards and certification program recognizes companies and institutions that support employees in balancing work and leisure and contribute to spreading a leisure culture. KT&G first received certification in 2016 and has maintained it through successive renewals. This year marks the first time the company has received a ministerial award.

KT&G supports employees' leisure activities through an hourly leave system, club activity support, an in-house library and an internal e-sports tournament. In 2015, the company introduced an automatic parental leave system under which employees are transferred to parental leave upon the birth of a child without a separate application. It also runs a family-friendly program called "Gahwaman-sa-seong," now in its 10th year, which includes events such as a family portrait day for employees and their families.

"This award reflects recognition of KT&G's management philosophy — that a balance between work and leisure leads to greater engagement and growth among employees," said Bae Su-min, head of KT&G's sustainability management division.