#South Korea #Seoul #ESSE #KTG #PENTAWARDS

KT&G Shines at PENTAWARDS 2025

KT&G, a leading tobacco manufacturer from South Korea, recently garnered significant attention at the global package design awards, PENTAWARDS 2025, held in Amsterdam. The company was celebrated for its outstanding contributions, with three products receiving top awards: gold for the 'ESSE Special Gold—Gold Bar Edition,' silver for 'ESSE Royal Palace—King's Garden Edition,' and bronze for 'ONEUL.' This achievement highlights KT&G's commitment to excellence and innovation in packaging design.

The PENTAWARDS, renowned for being one of the most prestigious design competitions worldwide, evaluates thousands of product packaging designs annually. This year marked the 19th iteration of the contest, first established in 2007. With a rigorous selection process, entries are assessed based on various factors, including aesthetics, creativity, and brand implementation.

Celebrating Unique Designs

ESSE Special Gold—Gold Bar Edition is a limited-run product crafted to commemorate the brand's 20th anniversary. Its packaging creatively mimics a gold bar, reflecting a premium quality that resonated well with judges. The innovative design effectively aligns with the product’s luxurious image, showcasing KT&G's expertise in high-end packaging.

Additionally, the ESSE Royal Palace—King's Garden Edition brought home the silver award. This design draws from traditional aesthetics and incorporates elements like the intricate gold patterns reminiscent of Korea’s historical designs, showcasing a modern take on cultural heritage. It signifies a thoughtful blend of tradition and contemporary design.

The ONEUL design, recognized with the bronze award, incorporates the essence of Korean culture by utilizing local tobacco leaves and presenting them through a lens of oriental beauty. The slim packaging harmonizes sophistication with cultural significance, illustrating KT&G’s talent for capturing the spirit of Korea in their products.

Acknowledgment of Global Design Competitiveness

A representative from KT&G noted that the company's success at PENTAWARDS is an acknowledgment of its global design capabilities. The awards serve as a testament to KT&G’s dedication to presenting premium quality designs that resonate with both domestic and international consumers. The spokesperson emphasized that KT&G aims to continually offer distinctive value through innovative designs that stand out in a competitive market.

KT&G, known for the global brand ESSE, maintains a dominant position not only in the Korean market but also on an international scale, offering over 870 brands across 148 countries as of 2024. The company's diverse portfolio spans combustible cigarettes to next-generation products and health-focused food items, reflecting its versatility and commitment to quality.

With accolades like those from PENTAWARDS, KT&G showcases its leadership in packaging design, reinforcing its status not just as a tobacco manufacturer but as a global innovator in brand presentation. Going forward, the company is expected to uphold its standards of excellence while exploring new avenues of creativity in its product designs.

Conclusion

As KT&G continues to expand its reach in both domestic and global markets, the recognition from PENTAWARDS will likely serve as a springboard for future innovations. The focus on elevating product presentation through superior packaging design reflects well on KT&G's strategic vision to merge art with functionality in its offerings, reinforcing its brand identity as a market leader in consumer packaged goods.