KB Financial Group Supports Local Brand "Kirin Company" Taking on the Global Market

by Kim Hye Min

Published 17 Sep.2025 09:43(KST)

Grand Prize Awarded at the 2025 Next Lycon Awards

KB Financial Group announced on the 17th that it awarded the "Local Brand" Grand Prize to Kirin Company, which is taking on the global market by reinterpreting gamtae (seaweed) from Seosan, Chungnam, at the "2025 Next Lycon Awards" held at the KBS annex in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th.

On the 11th, at the KBS annex, Park Youngjun, Executive Director of KB Financial Group (left), and Song Joohyun, CEO of Kirin Company, are taking a commemorative photo at the "2025 Next Lycon Awards." Provided by KB Financial Group

This event was the awards ceremony for the "Strong Small Business Growth Support Project," co-hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Federation of Korean Industries, with KB Financial Group participating as an official sponsor.

Kirin Company, which received the "Local Brand" Grand Prize, operates "Badasup," a premium seafood brand that has transformed gamtae from Seosan, Chungnam into a high-value-added product. As a representative local business in the Seosan region, it has been recognized for promoting Korean ingredients to the world and for protecting Korea's tidal flats and ecosystem.

Park Youngjun, Executive Director (CSO) of KB Financial Group, who participated in the awards ceremony, stated, "The sweat and effort of local brands that have fiercely grown in the field have created today's stage," adding, "By practicing inclusive finance that allows everyone to benefit from financial services without discrimination, we will be a strong partner so that many small business owners can rise as 'Lycons' of their regions."