KG Chemical
South Korea's first private fertilizer company, now a diversified KG Group chemical maker of fertilizers, construction admixtures, water-treatment agents and automotive urea solution.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
KG Chemical Co., Ltd. (KG케미칼 주식회사) is a South Korean chemical company that traces its origins to 1954, when it was founded as Kyunggi Chemical Industry (경기화학공업), described by the company as the country's first private fertilizer manufacturer. Over more than six decades it evolved from a fertilizer specialist into a diversified chemical and environmental-solutions business, and today it operates as a core affiliate of the KG Group. The company's business is organized around four main pillars. Its fertilizer business produces eco-friendly organic fertilizers, natural-ingredient crop protection agents, microbial preparations and soil-conditioning products. Its materials business supplies construction admixtures — water-reducing agents, concrete admixtures and dispersants — and the company states that its admixture raw-material business holds a high share of overseas markets. Its automotive urea solution business, marketed under the NOx-K brand, produces AdBlue-type diesel exhaust fluid for reducing nitrogen-oxide emissions from vehicles. Its environmental business covers high-efficiency sewage treatment agents, algae-removal coagulants and related water-treatment chemistry. The company also lists port logistics among its operations. KG Chemical is headquartered at 322 Dangwol-ro, Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, having moved its head office from Bucheon to Ulsan after its Bucheon plant site was absorbed by development. Its Onsan complex hosts production lines including PC and PF plants. The company was listed on the KOSPI in 1989. In 2003 it was renamed KG Chemical following the inauguration of Chairman Kwak Jae-sun, and it has since been the anchor of the KG Group, which the company describes as spanning some 14 affiliates in chemicals, steel, energy, waste-resource utilization, electronic payment, education, media, finance and leisure, online information services and food service. KG Chemical's representative directors are Kwak Jeong-hyun and Kim Jae-ik. The company positions itself around environmental and life-science themes, describing its ambition to become a first-class global eco-friendly enterprise, and it maintains a public commitment to principled, transparent and ethical management. Its product range includes the COZYSAFE line, presented on its website as a comfortable and safe solution.
History
KG Chemical began in December 1954 as Kyunggi Chemical Industry (경기화학공업), which the company describes as South Korea's first private fertilizer company. Its early decades were tied to the fertilizer industry, which it calls a pillar of the national economy. In 1974 it completed an assembled compound fertilizer plant in Bucheon, and in 1982 it completed a potassium sulfate plant in Ulsan. In 1985 an assembled compound fertilizer plant was completed in Ulsan, and in 1989 the company went public on the KOSPI. The 1990s brought further industrial expansion at Ulsan: a wharf was completed in 1992, a PNS plant in 1993 and a PACS plant in 1994. A turning point came in 2003, when Kwak Jae-sun became chairman and the company changed its name to KG Chemical, marking its transformation into the anchor of what became the KG Group. In 2005 Sihwa Energy joined the group, followed in 2008 by Yellow Cab and TG, and in 2009 the PC plant was completed in Ulsan. The 2010s were a period of rapid diversification and group building. In 2010 Eco Service Korea, Edaily and Zeroin joined the family of affiliates; in 2011 Inicis and Mobilions followed. In 2012 the company entered the automotive urea solution business with NOx-K. In 2013 it sold the Bucheon plant and moved its head office to Ulsan, changed the group CI, and developed PACS 300, a coagulant specialized for phosphorus removal in sewage. In 2014 it established a local corporation in Kazakhstan, added a PC plant line, and welcomed Dongbu Express into the group. In 2015 it developed and launched nematode-reducing compost and added KG IT Bank and KG Thurning Life; in 2016 KG All That joined and the company developed Korea's first nematode-reducing organic fertilizer and obtained self-specification certification for an algae-removal specialty coagulant. In 2017 KG Enerchem joined (marking entry into the secondary battery business), KFC joined, a calcium agent was developed through a national research project, and KG ICT joined. In 2018 KG CS Energy joined and the group moved into the KG Tower in Seosomun; in 2019 KG Dongbu Steel joined. In 2020 Hollys F&B joined the group. Across this period the company broadened its product portfolio from fertilizers into construction admixture raw materials, water-treatment chemicals and automotive urea solution, and it describes itself as pursuing a future as a first-class global eco-friendly enterprise. Its head office is now in Onsan, Ulsan, and its representative directors are Kwak Jeong-hyun and Kim Jae-ik.
- 2020
Hollys F&B joined the group.
- 2019
KG Dongbu Steel joined the group.
- 2018
KG CS Energy joined; group moved into KG Tower in Seosomun.
- 2017
KG Enerchem joined (entry into secondary battery business); KFC joined; developed a calcium agent through a national research project; KG ICT joined.
- 2016
KG All That joined the group; developed Korea's first nematode-reducing organic fertilizer; obtained self-specification certification for an algae-removal specialty coagulant.
- 2015
Developed and launched nematode-reducing compost; KG IT Bank and KG Thurning Life joined the group.
- 2014
Established a local corporation in Kazakhstan; added a PC plant line; Dongbu Express joined the group.
- 2013
Sold Bucheon plant and moved head office to Ulsan; changed group CI; developed PACS 300 phosphorus-removal coagulant.
- 2012
Entered the automotive urea solution business with NOx-K.
- 2011
Inicis and Mobilions joined the group.
Products and positioning
A diversified, eco-friendly chemical company and the founding affiliate of the KG Group, combining a long fertilizer heritage with materials, automotive urea solution and environmental businesses.
Eco-friendly organic fertilizers
Organic and microbial fertilizers and soil conditioners for agriculture.
Natural-ingredient crop protection agents
Crop protection products based on natural ingredients.
Concrete admixtures and dispersants
Water-reducing agents, admixtures and dispersants for construction materials.
PACS water-treatment coagulants
Coagulants including PACS 300 for phosphorus removal and algae-removal specialty coagulants.
NOx-K automotive urea solution
AdBlue-type diesel exhaust fluid for reducing nitrogen-oxide emissions.
COZYSAFE
Product line presented as a comfortable and safe solution.
Marketing campaigns
- Nongmin Shinmun advertising
Sources6 sources
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