SEOUL -- WHITE TIGER GROUND (Brand name: ANDKWAN), a Korean personal care biotech company, has been awarded the Bronze Award in the Innovation Zone Functional Ingredient category at inCosmetics Global 2025, held from April 8 to 10 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This marks the first time a Korean company, including conglomerates, has received a main global award at the event. Notably, this remarkable achievement was made by a small company participating in the show for the first time, solely based on its technological capabilities.

The award recognizes the company’s breakthrough in developing and commercializing the world’s first organic cosmetic ingredient derived from kimchi-based antimicrobial agents.

By merging Korea’s traditional fermented food science with modern biotechnology and advanced computational science, the company has brought innovation in both sustainability and functionality to the field of dermatological ingredients.

WHITE TIGER GROUND was selected as an Innovation Zone exhibitor and showcased its ingredient as a leading technological innovation.

At the Sustainability Seminar, the company presented its technologies in sustainable organic antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory agents, and preservative ingredients. At the Technical Seminar, it introduced its proprietary deep-learning system, OrganicNet, and explained how it enables the development and application of kimchi-derived ingredients, as well as how the technology connects global manufacturers and end-users.

This year’s Global Awards were judged by a panel of 45 international industry experts, including senior R&D specialists from major players such as L’Oréal, Revlon, Rare Beauty, Trinny London, and Haleon.

Unlike the Asia awards, which primarily involve local competitors and panels, the global edition features direct assessments by multinational corporations, many of which are headquartered in Europe and the United States.

In a highly competitive field that included industry giants such as LipoTrue, Evonik, Symrise, and Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, WHITE TIGER GROUND’s victory is seen as a historic first among both Korean conglomerates and SMEs to receive a main award at in-cosmetics Global until now, achieving global recognition purely through innovation.

At in-cosmetics Global—the world’s largest and most prestigious cosmetic ingredient exhibition since 1990—the most coveted awards are given to active and functional ingredients that offer scientifically proven benefits to both manufacturers and consumers. WHITE TIGER GROUND (ANDKWAN) won in the Best Functional Ingredient category.

This year’s event featured:
1,043 participating companies, 21,432 total visitors from around the world,
169 selected for the Innovation Zone,
A 10% increase in visitor attendance compared to the 2024 Paris edition (with 90% international attendees, including those from the US, Europe, and Japan).

Despite being its first time participating in this raw materials expo, White Tiger Ground has once again proven its eco-friendly global technology and the potential for innovation in traditional materials by winning the grand prize amidst global competition.

This is also the first time in the history of the global cosmetics ingredient trade show that a Korean company has won a main award, adding historic significance to the win.

“This award is a result of proving the technological synergy created by the fusion of traditional Korean fermentation technology, eco-friendly biotechnology, and deep learning-based cutting-edge computational science. As a global first mover leading innovation, we will directly lead overseas technology and trends and continue to be more active in the global market in the future,” said Park Kwan-young, CEO of White Tiger Ground, in her acceptance speech.

The WHITE TIGER GROUND (ANDKWAN) booth at the exhibition was a hub of activity, hosting direct consultations with representatives from an impressive total of 450 global companies.