18 Companies Including SK Hynix, Kia, and Kookmin Bank Win the 'Tax Payment Grand Prize' [2026 Tax Payment Grand Prize]

[2026 Tax Payment Grand Prize]
SK Hynix / NAVER / Kia / Hyundai Mobis / Celltrion / Pharma Research / Krafton / SK Telecom / Hanwha Aerospace / Hyundai Rotem / Soulbrain Holdings / DB HiTek / Kookmin Bank / Hana Bank / Kiwoom Securities / Shinhan Card / KB Kookmin Card / Hyundai Capital

[2026 Taxpayer Rights Grand Prize]
Daeryun LLC / Ko Kyung-tae, Head of the Tax Division at EY Hanyoung / Yoon Hak-seop, Head of the Tax Part at Samjong KPMG

Eighteen companies including SK Hynix, Kia, and Kookmin Bank won the '2026 Tax Payment Grand Prize.' Daeryun LLC, Ko Kyung-tae, Head of the Tax Division at EY Hanyoung, and Yoon Hak-seop, Head of the Tax Part at Samjong KPMG, won the '2026 Taxpayer Rights Grand Prize.'

Joseilbo held the '2026 Tax Payment Grand Prize' award ceremony at the Convention Hall of the Eliana Hotel in Seoul at 3 p.m. on the 25th, awarding the Tax Payment Grand Prize to 18 companies that contributed to strengthening national finances through faithful tax payment even amid a difficult economic environment, and the Taxpayer Rights Grand Prize to one corporation and two individuals who contributed to protecting taxpayers' rights.

This Tax Payment Grand Prize was selected, based on 2025 corporate tax payment records, from among ▲KOSPI-listed companies within the top 10 in industry-by-industry corporate tax payment records (about two per industry) and ▲KOSDAQ-listed companies with the highest corporate tax payments (about two).

The selection targeted companies with an effective tax rate of 14% or higher and within 50%, and corporations that received additional levies through a National Tax Service tax investigation, as well as companies that caused social controversy, were excluded from review.

The Taxpayer Rights Grand Prize was awarded to individuals and corporations that ordinarily contributed to protecting taxpayers' rights and to the development of the tax system.

The Tax Payment Grand Prize was selected through a rigorous review by a review committee. Yoon Seong-man, president of the Korean Accounting Association for taxation, served as chair of the review committee, and Kim Gap-soon, president of the Korea Tax Policy Association, Yang Seung-jong, president of the Korea Tax Law Association, Park Hoon, chairman of the International Fiscal Association Korea, along with Kim Sang-woo, director of Joseilbo's Industry Department, Heo Heon, director of the Finance Department, and Yoo So-sik, head of the Marketing Office, participated as review members.

This ceremony was hosted and organized by Joseilbo, and co-hosted by four academic societies: the Korean Accounting Association for taxation, the Korea Tax Policy Association, the Korea Tax Law Association, and the International Fiscal Association Korea.

Sponsoring organizations included the National Tax Service, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Korean Association of Certified Public Tax Accountants, the KOSDAQ Association, the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Korea Mid-market Enterprises Association, and the Korea Listed Companies Association.

◆ 2026 Tax Payment Grand Prize–winning companies (figures in parentheses are 2025 corporate tax payment records)

[IT/Electronics] ▲SK Hynix (7.3696 trillion won) ▲NAVER (528.1 billion won)

[Automotive] ▲Kia (1.3903 trillion won) ▲Hyundai Mobis (469.9 billion won)
[Pharma/Bio] ▲Celltrion (157.1 billion won) ▲Pharma Research (47.6 billion won)
[Games] ▲Krafton (212.4 billion won)
[Telecom] ▲SK Telecom (325.7 billion won)
[Defense] ▲Hanwha Aerospace (456.4 billion won) ▲Hyundai Rotem (228.5 billion won)
[KOSDAQ] ▲Soulbrain Holdings (142.6 billion won)
[Materials/Parts/Equipment] ▲DB HiTek (72.6 billion won)
[Banking] ▲Kookmin Bank (1.4353 trillion won) ▲Hana Bank (1.2084 trillion won)
[Securities] ▲Kiwoom Securities (357.6 billion won)
[Cards] ▲Shinhan Card (127 billion won) ▲KB Kookmin Card (103.4 billion won)
[Capital] ▲Hyundai Capital (134.9 billion won)

◆ 2026 Taxpayer Rights Grand Prize winners

▲Daeryun LLC
▲Ko Kyung-tae, Head of the Tax Division at EY Hanyoung
▲Yoon Hak-seop, Head of the Tax Part at Samjong KPMG

Im Do-young (right@joseilbo.com)

[Read Full Article]
18 Companies Including SK Hynix, Kia, and Kookmin Bank Win the 'Tax Payment Grand Prize' [2026 Tax Payment Grand Prize] (Go to Article)