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History

Since its establishment in 1998, Kona I has led Korea’s cashless payments industry through the development and commercialization of Korea’s first transportation card system.
By acquiring EMV certification with self-developed chip operating system (COS) and launching “KONA”, it has stands head-to-head with global Corporations.
Its KONA Money, the world’s first open-type mobile payment platform, is changing the paradigm of the payment landscape.

List of awards received

List of awards received Kona I

  • First-place prize (KOSDAQ category) in Transparent Accounting Award

    Korean Accounting Association
    (06.2016)     한국회계학회

  • Korea Economic Leader Award

    Joongang Daily
    (10.2015)     중앙일보

  • Technology category of
    “EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award”

    Ernst & Young Han Young Accounting Corporation
    (11.2014)     EY한영 회계법인

  • Minister’s Award at
    “World Class 300 Awards”

    Korea International Trade Organization
    (11.2014)     산업통상자원부

  • “Global IT Export”
    Trader Award

    Korea International Trade Organization
    (11.2014)     한국회계학회

  • Korea Institute for Advancement of
    Technology President Award for
    “Pioneering of Global IT Market”

    Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology
    (02.2012)     중앙일보

  • Minister of Knowledge Economy Award for
    “Global IT CEO”

    Ministry of Knowledge Economy
    (04.2011)     EY한영 회계법인

  • KOSDAQ Outstanding Entrepreneur Award for “Outstanding Model KOSDAQ Company”

    Ministry of Knowledge Economy (04.2011) 산업통상자원부

  • Grand prize for “Entrepreneur with Outstanding Economic Performance Award”

    Herald Corporation / KOSDAQ (03.2011) 한국회계학회

  • Grand prize for “Outstanding Venture Company Award”

    Korean Academic Association of Business Administration (06.2012) 중앙일보
1998

Business start

Kona I was first launched under the name of Korea Electronic Banking Technology.
It developed and commercialized the transportation card system for the first time in Korea and proved its own IT technology.

  • 1998.3
    Founded KEBT
  • 1998.11
    Hanaro Transportation Card
  • 1999.4
    System construction
1999
2000

Became listed on KOSDAQ and founded MYBI Card Corp.

In September 2000, we established MYBI Card Corporation, a digital cash consortium in the Busan region and, in December of the same year, it was selected as the business operator for Gyeonggi-do’s advanced public transportation management system. It was listed on KOSDAQ in October 2001.After having been selected as the business operator for Seoul’s metro card project in January 2002, Kona I received the United Kingdom’s “Advanced Card Awards” in April for the third consecutive year, making another leap forward as a global company

  • 2000.9
    Founded MYBI Card Corp.
  • 2001.10
    Korea Securities Dealers Association (KOSDAQ) Registration
  • 2002.2
    Winning Advanced Card Awards 2002 for 3 consecutive years
  • 2002.10
    Received the 4th Seoul Venture Awards Grand Prize
2002
2003

Export promising SME selection

In March 2004, it supplied a global platform-based java card, Kona, to Busan Bank for the first time and, in July, was selected as a promising export small and medium enterprise before acquiring ISO9001:2000 quality assurance system certification.
In 2005, it acquired cash IC applet quality certification from Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings

  • 2003
    Internally developed smart card COS platform
  • 2003.9
    Developed and distributed EMV-based global platform
  • 2004
    Developed and distributed 3G/4G USIM cards
  • 2004
    Entered the global market
2004
2005

Leap into the global market

The company was rebranded as Kona I in 2012 to reflects its transition to a global company as it entered the Thailand, China, and European markets.

  • 2005
    Korean IC cards
  • 2012.4
    Changed the name of company to Kona I
  • 2013
    Reinforced competitiveness in the global market
2013
2014

Received 100 Million Dollars Export Tower Award

In 2014, was awarded the $ 100 Million Exports Milestone Recognition award from the Korea International Trade Association.
Evolved into a global IT company by expanding into the IT platform and solutions business.

  • 2014
    Entered new markets through M & A Developed and operated business in Fin-tech platform
  • 2015
    Developed and operated business in Fin-tech platform
  • 2018
    Merger of subsidi-ary Kona C
2018