HK inno.N Corp. became the only domestic company to earn the top rating of A+ in all categories in this year’s ESG (environment, social, and governance) evaluation by Korea’s ESG Standards Institute (KCGS).
On Thursday, HK inno.N announced that it had earned A+ in all three categories—environment (E), social (S), and governance (G)—as well as in the overall rating under KCGS’s “2026 ESG Evaluation.”
KCGS is an institutional investor that annually evaluates and publishes the ESG management levels of domestic listed companies. This year, the evaluation covered 1,020 companies on the Korea Exchange and major KOSDAQ-listed firms across all ESG domains. Among them, HK inno.N was the only company to receive A+ in all three categories: environment, social, and governance. The A+ rating corresponds to “very excellent.”
This year, HK inno.N built an ESG data platform, establishing a system for integrated management of related information. By managing environmental, social, and governance data collected from each division within the company through a single system, the company enhanced the accuracy and consistency of its data and laid the groundwork to prepare for the upcoming mandatory disclosure of sustainable management.
In the environment category, obtaining the global Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification for Kaycap, a new drug for gastroesophageal reflux disease, was highlighted as a key achievement. According to HK inno.N, Kaycap became the first oral finished pharmaceutical in the world to receive this certification. The Environmental Product Declaration is a system that evaluates and discloses the environmental impact generated throughout a product’s entire lifecycle, from production to disposal.
In the social category, supply chain audits conducted on domestic and international active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers were cited as an achievement. HK inno.N strengthened its supply chain management system by reviewing the ESG management status of its partners. In the governance category, it was explained that a board-of-directors-centered decision-making structure and efforts to enhance transparency were reflected in the evaluation.
Guok Dal-won, CEO of HK inno.N, stated, “This evaluation is significant as it once again proves HK inno.N’s competitiveness not only within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry but also as a leading ESG company in South Korea.” He added, “Going forward, HK inno.N will make every effort to earn the trust of investors and stakeholders through sustainable and transparent ESG management.”
In July, HK inno.N also ranked first among top-performing ESG companies in the asset class of 2 trillion won or more in the “First Half 2026 ESG Evaluation” released by ESG evaluation firm Sustainvest. In the size-based evaluation, it earned the top rating of AA for the fifth consecutive time.
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