22nd December, 2008

• Kia receives the most prestigious Korean design award, the "President's Award for Design"
   
• Long-term international and company-wide design strategy recognised
   

 
 
Kia Motors received the President's Award for Design at the 10th annual Korea Design Awards in recognition of the company's design-centred management strategy implemented in multiple stages since 2005.

The prestigious award was presented by the President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Myung-bak Lee, and recognises Kia's leadership in design.

Since the strategic appointment of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer in 2006, Kia has designed and produced a series of new and refreshed models, and concepts, focused around what Schreyer calls a "linear and minimalist" design language.

The backbone of this drive has been the development and operation of a global design network which has included the opening of dedicated Kia design centres in North America and Germany.

Euisun Chung, President of Kia Motors said, "Our cross-company pursuit of design excellence since 2005 has finally come to fruition. We will use the Korea Design Award as a stepping stone to continue to infuse our creative design spirit throughout many aspects of Kia's business, not just limiting our efforts to product design."

The award also recognised the creative, above-the-line corporate advertising campaign introduced in the Korea market since 2007 as well as newly designed vehicles recently released locally, including the Mohave (known as Borrego in other markets), Lotze Innovation (Optima or Magentis), Forte (Cerato or Spectra) and Soul.

The Korea Design Awards are sponsored by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and supported by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion. The annual awards are considered the definitive design awards in Korea.