Coway (company)
Korean water purifier manufacturer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coway Co., Ltd. (Korean: 코웨이 주식회사)is an international manufacturer of household appliances, water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, water softeners, and mattresses from South Korea.[2][3][4] Founded and headquartered in Seoul, Coway is the largest water purifier company in the country and owns subsidiaries in Malaysia, the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Europe, Japan, and China. The company is listed on the Korea Exchange and is a subsidiary of Netmarble since 2019. Recently, Coway is also focusing on the bedding products, such as mattresses and Massage Chairs.
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Native name | 코웨이 주식회사 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| KRX: 021240 KRX100t WOWAX Componen DJSI Asia-Pacific S&P Global Water Index | |
| Industry | Home appliances |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Yoon Seok-keum |
| Headquarters | , South Korea |
Area served | South Korea, Malaysia, United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Europe, Japan, and China. |
Key people | Bang Jun-hyuk (Chairman) Jangwon Seo (CEO) |
| Revenue | |
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| Total assets |
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| Owner |
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Number of employees | 10,000 (2024) |
| Parent | Netmarble (25.08%) |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Website | coway |
History
Summarize
Perspective
1989–1999: Early Years
Woongjin Group founded the company under the name Woongjin Coway in 1989.[4][3] Beginning with water purifiers designed for the Korean market, Coway introduced its first product, the "Coway Water Purifier," in 1991. In 1992, the company launched the "COMPAC Water Purifier (CP-6025)" and expanded into air purification products by 1995. Coway was designated a venture company in 1998, having developed a previously less-established business sector in Korea. By 1999, the company held a leading share in South Korea's air purifier and water filter markets.
Coway's business model was based on a rental structure that assigned service employees, referred to as Cody and Codak, to visit customers approximately every two months. This model supported the company’s growth in both public and residential markets. Over time, the names Cody and Codak became informally used across the industry for similar roles.
2000–2011: Expansion
In September 2003, Coway merged with DooWon Tech [5]and was ranked first in the Korean Industry Customer Satisfaction Index. Later that year, it received a No. 1 Quality Certification for its water purifier products.
In 2004, Coway was ranked first in brand power in the Korean industry for the sixth consecutive year, while its Cares (air purifiers) and LooLoo (bidets) products held the top position for two consecutive years. In 2005, Coway merged with Woongjin Coway Development and transferred its home appliance division to Woongjin EnTech. Previously, Woongjin Coway Development had absorbed Woongjin Media in 2001, although Woongjin Media was spun off again in 2003 and liquidated in 2006. In 2009, Coway absorbed Woongjin Cuchen, and in 2010, it acquired the business operations of Arte Re Cosmetics and the health food division of Woongjin Foods.
2012–2018: Ownership under MBK Partners
On February 6, 2012, Woongjin Group announced its intention to sell Woongjin Coway. MBK Partners was selected as the buyer but the transaction stalled after Woongjin Holdings entered court receivership in September 2012 due to financial difficulties. [6]The sale was finalized in 2013 following court mediation, and the company was renamed Coway. During MBK's ownership, the company maintained a shareholder return ratio of approximately 88%, with a return on equity (ROE) around 30%.[6]
2018–2019: Reacquisition by Woongjin Group
In late 2018, Woongjin Group reacquired Coway for approximately 1.68 trillion KRW (1.4 billion USD), renaming it Woongjin Coway.[7] The acquisition was financed through a combination of a capital increase, convertible bonds, and acquisition financing, leading to a significant increase in the group's debt ratio and a downgraded credit rating. Coway was put up for sale again in mid-2019. Several domestic conglomerates and private equity firms, including SK, Lotte, GS, Shinsegae, KKR, and Carlyle Group, were mentioned as potential buyers.[8]
Netmarble was selected as the preferred bidder in October 2019, offering over 2 trillion KRW.[9] By the end of October, Netmarble had secured shareholder approvals from CJ ENM and Tencent. The acquisition was completed for 1.74 trillion KRW (approximately 1.6 billion USD).
2020–Present: Under Netmarble
After the acquisition by Netmarble, Coway launched premium and wellness-focused brands such as "NOBLE" and "BEREX," aiming to diversify beyond the saturated water and air purifier markets in Korea. In 2021, Coway announced a brand partnership with BTS.[10] The collaboration supported Coway’s efforts in expanding into international markets, including Malaysia, the United States, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and Europe.[3]
At CES 2022, Coway introduced its new "NOBLE" series and the Smart Care Air Mattress.[11]
By 2023, Coway reported reaching 10 million rental accounts globally, combining domestic and international customers. [12]
R&D and technology
In Februrary 2008, Coway R&D Center was built in Seoul National University’s Research Park. The center, built with an investment of approximately 58 billion KRW, equipped with advanced research instruments. Coway merged dispersed research facilities from Seoul, Incheon, and Gongju into this new R&D center.[13]
Coway's R&D center has been recognized as a CSA Qualified Witness Laboratory, a designated TÜV SÜD testing laboratory, a TSP (Technical Service Provider) by WQA (Water Quality Association), an international testing laboratory with accreditation from KOLAS (Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme), and a drinking water quality inspection agency by South Korea’s Ministry of the Environment.[14]
Corporate governance
As of April 2025
| Shareholder | Shares (%) | Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Netmarble | 25.51% |  |
| National Pension Service | 6.55% | |
| Impax Asset Management Group | 5.32% | .svg){kind=small} |
| Black Rock | 5.09%% |  |
Subsidiaries
As of April 2025
| Region | Country | Company names |
|---|---|---|
| Asia(43) | China(1) | Coway China Co., Ltd. |
| Japan(1) | Coway Japan Co., Ltd. | |
| Malaysia(1) | COWAY (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., IOBED(M) SDN. BHD | |
| Indonesia(1) | PT COWAY INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA | |
| Singapore(1) | COWAY SINGAPORE PTE.LTD. | |
| South Korea(20) | Coway, Coway & Tech, Coway Life Solution, Berex Tech, | |
| Vietnam(1) | Coway Vina Co.,Ltd. | |
| Thailand(1) | COWAY (Thailand) Co., Ltd. | |
| Europe(4) | Netherlands(1) | Coway Europe B.V. |
| North America | USA(1) | Coway USA. Inc. |
Corporate affairs
Business trends
The key trends for Coway are (as of the financial year ending 31 December):[16]
| Revenue
(KRW billion) |
Net Profit
(KRW billion) |
# of Rental Account | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2,315 | 463 | 6,144,000 |
| 2016 | 2,376 | 339 | 6,243,000 |
| 2017 | 2,517 | 473 | 6,527,000 |
| 2018 | 2,707 | 520 | 7,012,000 |
| 2019 | 3,019 | 458 | 7,788,000 |
| 2020 | 3,237 | 606 | 8,265,000 |
| 2021 | 3,664 | 640 | 9,081,000 |
| 2022 | 3,856 | 677 | 9,714,000 |
| 2023 | 3,967 | 731 | 10,218,000 |
| 2024 | 4,310 | 795 | 10,894,000 |
Design
The company has been recognized with several awards, including the Red Dot Design Award for 17 consecutive years.[17][18]
In 2023, Coway also received accolades at the iF Design Awards.[19][20]
Financial overview
As of recent data, Coway's stock price stands at $31.18, with a revenue of $2.96B (TTM) and a net income of $342M.[21] Its growth rate has been recorded at 0.80%.[21] In Q4 of 2022, the company reported a revenue of KRW 980.2B, marking a 3.6% increase YoY. For the same year, its overseas revenue for Q4 was KRW 360.6B, a significant 19.6% growth YoY.[3] In Q2 of 2023, Coway reported financial growth with a revenue of KRW 1,006.2B, marking a 2.9% increase YoY.[22] For ~27' Mid-Term Business Target, Coway targeted a posting revenue of more than KRW 5 trillion in 2027, which is 6.5% increase YoY
Controversies
In 2016, three of Coway's ice cube maker models were discovered to leak trace amounts of nickel into its water. Allegedly, the company attempted to hide the defect from customers for a year.[23] Coway was forced to recall models from an estimated 87 thousand customers in 2016, and several clients moved to file lawsuits against the company.[24] Coway's CEO at the time, Kim Dong-hyun, was brought to resign from his position following the controversy as well.[25]
In June 2020, Coway’s field technicians launched a strike over visit fees, job security, and work-related expenses. In September 2021 they made an agreement was eventually reached—including full-time employee conversion, wage increases, and support benefits[26]
References
External links
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