COWAY

Coway's Water Sommeliers Established in 2019, Coway’s Water Taste Evaluation & Research Lab, located in the company’s Environmental Technology Research Institute (R&D Center) in Seoul, Korea, is home to a unique group of experts: nationally-certified water sommeliers. Coway is the only company in the industry operating a dedicated water taste research lab. Harnessing Science for Better Tasting Water Similar to their namesakes in the wine industry, water sommeliers are specialists able to evaluate the sensory qualities of water, ensuring that Coway’s water purifiers deliver water that is as enjoyable to drink as it is safe. By studying the factors that influence water quality and taste, they validate and enhance the drinking experience. This year, Coway certified 15 new water sommeliers, bringing the company’s total to 44 – the largest in the industry. Among them, 10 hold Advanced Level certifications, enabling them to lead training and education in water taste.   Coway’s Environmental Technology Research Institute (R&D Center) in Seoul, Korea Since the launch of the initiative in 2012, Coway has been expanding its water sommelier program in order to strengthen its research capabilities. The lab also pioneered the industry’s first proprietary water taste standard, the ‘GPT (Good Pure Tasty) Water Index.’ Today, water sommeliers play a central role in product development, assessing water taste and quality throughout filter design and testing processes. Their expertise ensures Coway is delivering to its customers water that is not only clean and safe, but that is also consistently pleasant across the company’s diverse range of markets.   Coway's Icon Water Purifier 2 (CP-7211N) Achieving International Certification and Recognition Beyond this taste expertise, Coway has also achieved international recognition for the water safety and performance of its products. Coway was the first in the industry to obtain global certification from the Water Quality Association (WQA), a recognized international certification body for water purifiers, back in 2008. Additionally, Coway’s filters have been certified by the WQA to a variety of leading industry standards, including NSF/ANSI 42 (aesthetic effects), 53 (health-related effects) and 58 (reverse osmosis systems). More than 80 of the company’s products carry the WQA’s Gold Seal Mark, a clear assurance of product quality, durability and safety. Setting the Global Benchmark for Water Expertise Moreover, Coway’s specialized overseas research & development (R&D) systems empower the company to develop custom products tailored to the specific requirements of each country it operates in. By collecting and analyzing water samples the world over, Coway has developed its proprietary “Water Map”, a database containing findings from approximately 2,700 water sources in 41 countries. This extensive catalog of samples allows Coway to deliver optimal and localized products and services that align with each region’s unique water characteristics. With the industry’s largest team of certified water sommeliers, advanced R&D capabilities and internationally-certified products, Coway continues to set the benchmark for water expertise. Coway’s mission is simple yet powerful: to deliver water that is safer, cleaner and consistently better-tasting, every single day.  

SEOUL, South Korea, August 26, 2025 –  Coway Co., Ltd., the “Best Life Solution Company,” has released its latest sustainability report for FY2024, the 20th to date. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the company’s progress toward its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, providing an in-depth look at how it fulfills its social responsibilities while enhancing long-term value for stakeholders.   “Coway has been expanding its R&D investments in order to develop innovative products and secure new technologies, resulting in record-high sales and ongoing growth,” said Coway’s CEO, Jangwon Seo. “We will continue to systematically manage our strategic ESG tasks and strengthen their execution, to deliver genuine environmental and social value.”   First published in 2006, the 2024 iteration of the Sustainability Report highlights Coway’s latest key achievements as guided by its vision of becoming a “Company Caring for Better Earth.”   On the Environmental front, Coway has made headway through the implementation of a closed-loop resource circulation system by applying recycled materials – made from plastic waste collected from returned products – to its mass-produced products. The company is also working to continuously reduce environmental impact in product design and packaging by simplifying its packaging and using eco-friendly materials.   With regards to its Social undertakings, Coway has continued its biodiversity conservation activities in collaboration with local communities, organizing campaigns such as creating classroom forests and collective river and marine ‘plogging’ activities. Furthermore, since 2018, the company has been supporting environmentally vulnerable groups by providing air purifiers and subsequent maintenance services, in recognition of which, Coway received a commendation from South Korea’s Ministry of Environment in 2024.   Moreover, with regards to the Governance sector, Coway this year joined voluntary disclosures of corporate value enhancement plans to strengthen transparent communication, setting mid-to-long-term performance indicators and targets to increase shareholder value.   Established in 2021, Coway’s ESG Committee deliberates and makes decisions on key ESG matters based on the expertise and the independence of its Board of Directors. Coway also operates a working-level ESG Council to regularly share its ESG direction with employees and monitor the implementation of key tasks across business areas.   The full text of the Coway Sustainability Report 2024 is available  here .   About Coway Co., Ltd. Established in Korea in 1989, Coway, the "Best Life Solution Company," is a leading environmental home appliances company making people's lives healthy and comfortable with innovative home appliances such as water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, and mattresses. BEREX, the company’s sleep & wellness brand, aims to improve the quality of life through cutting-edge mattresses and massage chairs. Since being founded, Coway has become a leader in the environmental home appliances industry, with intensive research, engineering, development, and customer service. The company has proven dedication to innovation with award-winning products, home health expertise, unrivaled market share, customer satisfaction, and brand recognition. Coway continues to innovate by diversifying product lines and accelerating overseas business in Malaysia, the USA, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Europe, based on the business success in Korea. In 2025, the company launched Coway Life Solution, a premium elder care platform offering personalized care solutions tailored to different life stages. For more information, please visit  https://coway.com/  or  http://newsroom.coway.com .

Coway, the “Best Life Solution Company”, has reached another historic milestone with the cumulative sales of over 15 million water purifiers in South Korea alone, a figure equivalent to one-third of the nation’s population. This achievement underscores the company's longstanding market leadership and is a testament to Coway’s ongoing innovation in clean water technology since the launch of its very first purifier in 1990.     To put this figure into perspective, a hypothetical lineup of 15 million of Coway’s best-selling water purifiers placed end-to-end, each being approximately 38.5 cm tall, would stretch roughly 5,800 kilometers, a distance equivalent to the height of Mount Everest if it were to be stacked 660 times over — a truly vivid illustration of the company’s scale and reach. Shaping the Market Through Disruption and Innovation Since its early days, Coway has continually been reshaping the landscape of South Korea’s home appliance market. In 1998, the company pioneered the country’s first rental-based business model for water purifiers, making clean drinking water more accessible through regular cleaning services, even during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. This rental business model, now widely regarded as one of the first examples of the subscription economy, helped transform the water purifier’s status from a luxury item to a household essential. (Upper) Coway Icon Water Purifier 2, (Lower) Coway Icon Ice Water Purifier   South Korea’s first self-sterilizing water purifier in 2011; a compact direct-dispensing model in 2012; the world’s first tankless water purifier, also in 2012; and a sparkling water purifier combining carbonation with purification in 2014. These milestones have cemented Coway’s role as a pioneer in redefining how people consume water at home. Premium Designs with Proven Success More recently, the introduction of the company’s Icon Water Purifier Series has further solidified Coway’s premium positioning within the market. Compact and performance-driven, the Icon Water Purifier Series has achieved over 1.6 million cumulative unit sales. (Read the full feature on the Series here .)   Coway Global Network   On the global stage, Coway's market presence is also expanding at a rapid pace. With seven overseas subsidiaries spanning Southeast Asia as well as the United States, the company has been accelerating its growth across markets the world over. In Malaysia, the company already leads the market with the No.1 share in water purifiers, and is steadily increasing its presence in such neighboring countries as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. From 15 Million to the Next Trillion Coway’s 15-million-unit milestone comes hot on the heels of other strong business performance results, with the company having already surpassed KRW 4 trillion in annual revenue. With its sights set on reaching KRW 5 trillion, Coway continues to expand its portfolio, including its burgeoning sleep and wellness brand, BEREX, while remaining steadfast to its commitment to enhance the lives of consumers worldwide through innovative health and wellness solutions.