PI Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (178920), the leading Korean polyimide (PI) manufacturer with the largest global market share and an Arkema (ISIN: FR0010313833) affiliate, announced today that CEO Kevin Song received the Ministerial Commendation from Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) during the 62nd Trade Day. This recognition comes just one day after the company was honored at the 2025 Korea Technology Awards, underscoring PI Advanced Materials’ excellence in both technological innovation and global competitiveness.
The Trade Day awards are prestigious government commendations granted to individuals and companies that have significantly contributed to the national economy through export growth, global market expansion, and trade balance improvement. In particular, they recognize CEOs who have achieved tangible outcomes in high-value-added export sectors. PI Advanced Materials CEO Kevin Song was selected as an awardee in recognition of the company’s outstanding performance, including its sustained export growth and a high direct export ratio over the past three years.
Founded in 2008, PI Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. has specialized in high-performance polyimide (PI) materials used across a wide range of advanced industries. The company has held the No. 1 global market share since 2014 in PI film, its flagship product. The company has played a vital role in stabilizing Korea’s industrial ecosystem by achieving localization and technological self-sufficiency in advanced electronics materials, which had long been reliant on Japanese imports. PI Advanced Materials has also pioneered commercialization of key products—including protective films for flexible displays, Chip-on-Film (CoF) substrates, and insulation materials for EV motors—either for the first time in Korea or globally. These innovations have significantly strengthened the competitiveness of Korea’s display, semiconductor, and electric vehicle industries. The company has further elevated the presence of Korean materials in global supply chains and, following its acquisition by Arkema, is accelerating its global expansion. In 2025, PI Advanced Materials launched the new premium brand Zenimid™ to target the U.S. and European markets.
Its export performance has been particularly remarkable. PI Advanced Materials has achieved remarkable export growth, recording USD 105 million in exports in 2022, USD 111 million in 2023, and USD 127 million in 2024. This marks three consecutive years of surpassing the USD 100 million milestone. Originally focused on Greater China and East Asia, the company has actively expanded into the U.S. and European markets in cooperation with Arkema, achieving greater regional balance in its export portfolio.
Just one day prior, on December 3, the company also received the Ministerial Award at the 2025 Korea Technology Awards, hosted by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). The award recognized PI Advanced Materials for its development of high-reliability polyimide insulation materials for 800V EV drive motors—an achievement that highlights the company’s technological excellence.
"Receiving both the Ministerial Commendation at the Trade Day Ceremony and the 2025 Korea Technology Awards is a testament to PI Advanced Materials’ dual strength in technological innovation and global export leadership," said CEO Kevin Song. "We will continue to enhance our advanced materials capabilities and expand our global reach to contribute to the competitiveness of Korea’s industrial sector."