According to Nate’s report, the CEO of South Korean tobacco company KT&G, Park Kyung-man, stated at the regular shareholders’ meeting that despite the expected challenges such as strengthened protectionism and a high exchange rate, the company will continue to maintain a stable growth trajectory through strategic choices and focus.
The company plans to enhance the quality of revenue from its overseas cigarette business.
KT&G stated that in 2026, it will carry out a qualitative upgrade to the revenue structure of its overseas cigarette business.
Fang Qingwan stated that the company will not merely focus on scale expansion; instead, it will adopt more detailed pricing strategies based on national regulations and fully launch the “local completion production system”, continuously promoting quality growth centered around profits.
Accelerate the launch of the new tobacco platform and enhance shareholder returns
Regarding the new types of tobacco products, Fang Qingwan mentioned that the company will enhance technological innovation and overseas business capabilities, and promptly launch an innovative platform based on differentiated research and development. Additionally, it will leverage the maximum synergy of global partnerships to gain a competitive edge in non-burning product categories.
He also stated that the company will actively implement shareholder return policies such as increasing dividends, share buybacks, and the cancellation of treasury stocks, in order to share the operating results with shareholders and fulfill its responsibility as a representative enterprise for enhancing value in South Korea.
At the same shareholders’ meeting on that day, the following major proposals were also voted on and approved: the approval of the 39th financial statement and profit distribution statement, partial amendment of the articles of association, revision of the regulations on the payment of internal directors’ pensions, selection of external directors and members of the audit committee, approval of the upper limit of director compensation, and approval of the plan for holding and disposing of treasury stocks. All of these proposals were passed as originally proposed.