The importance of ‘value’ is more demanded in the society where convenience of life has been achieved to a certain degree. ‘Value’ in a way is an invisible asset that cannot be measured with numbers. ‘Value management’ in this respect means a process of finding and combining these values and applying them into management, or operation if you like, in order to draw the best result possible in the given situation or in the business. 

The winners of the 2019 Korea Value Management Award are those who proved themselves this process, who challenged without fear of failure, and who drew substantial results all derived from this ‘value’ and ‘value management’. 

The Korea Herald, the first English-language newspaper founded in Korea in 1953, and the Herald Business, the Korean-language counterpart, has been finding theses value-seekers and actioners for many years and recognized their passion and effort and results by rewarding prizes. Also taking part is monthly bilingual (Korean-English) business and culture magazine <Power Korea> which organizes and operates the award.

The award
Herald Corporation held the 2019 Korea Value Management Award at Seoul Press Center on March 26. Organized by monthly <Power Korea>, the award went to 31 winner organizations, companies and individuals, chosen after 2 month of screening, for showing excellence in finding and implementing ‘values’ in their businesses. Some of the notable winners are as follows: Jongno District Seoul, Namyangju City, Boseong County, GS Retail, Ki Ok-ran, Starbucks Coffee Korea, Noonbushin Jayeonae, Dainmoms Care, Brain King, Korea Food Culture Design Association, Korea Online Marketing Association, Ongari Beolgyo Kkomak & Zzim, Waywas, Uljin, Bae Jin Kyung, Rekken, New Link, Airtech, Bedding Café, Newkoadwind, INS Company, Enrichfood, Maeen Ballet, Soulssa, and Midam, Brand Nara. 

The ceremony
Opening the ceremony by announcer Jeong Ah-ram who asked the guests to stand for a salute to the colors, the Herald Corporation CEO Gwon Chung-won took the podium afterwards to give opening remark, followed by the head judge of the screening board of the award Kim Gwang-gyu, an advisory committee member of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding Korea, an appraisal board member of the Korea Management Appraisal Service, and the president of the Korea Branding Association. 

“The screening gave more advantageous to SMEs who have had difficulties in doing business yet pushed it forward with courage, challenge and above all the confidence in ‘values’ of their business. So a considerable number of prizes went to them” said Kim.

The congratulatory performances
A couple of congratulatory performances were stated at the prelude and at the end of the award by baritone Yang Tae-gap and soprano Helen Kim. Yang has played numerous leading roles in Magic Flute, L'elisir d'amore, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Gianni Schicchi, The Medium, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Marriage of Figaro, and La bohème. Kim, on the other hand, studied in Germany and founded the Gyeonggi Opera Company with her fellow musicians when back in Korea. She has been aired a number of times and is probably most famous for making opera easy and friendly to ordinary people.