The 2026 Korea Construction and Real Estate Industry Awards, now in its fourth year, restructured its Top Excellence Prize into six categories — smart construction, housing innovation, residential landscaping, urban redevelopment, commercial development and customer satisfaction — alongside grand prizes in architecture, development and housing.
Three companies won the Grand Prize, awarded by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: DL E&C (375500.KS) in architecture, Sebak Investment Development in development and Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation in housing. DL E&C earned high marks for operating a quality control system across the entire construction process and maintaining strong build quality. Sebak Investment Development was recognized for supplying the Hyangnam Station Grove Switzen complex in Manse-gu, Hwaseong, in Gyeonggi Province, contributing to improved local housing conditions and sustainable urban development. Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, or HUG, was credited for its housing project guarantee operations as well as for introducing the Deundeun Jeonse program and a jeonse-to-monthly-rent conversion trust that support housing stability for the public (jeonse is a Korean lease system in which tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent).
The Top Excellence Prize, awarded by the president of Seoul Economic Daily, went to six companies. SK Ecoplant won in smart construction for applying artificial intelligence and digital technology across the construction process, while Lotte Engineering & Construction won in housing innovation for developing residential products that reflect the varied lifestyles and tastes of residents. Samsung C&T (028260.KS) took the residential landscaping category for strengthening its competitiveness in landscape design through Nature Gallery, the signature landscaping philosophy of its Raemian brand, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction (000720.KS) won in urban redevelopment after securing more than 10 trillion won in redevelopment orders for a second consecutive year. In commercial development, GS E&C subsidiary Xi S&D (317400.KQ) won for Chungjeongno Station Xirene, which presented a mixed-use downtown development model combining residential, office and retail functions. POSCO E&C won in customer satisfaction for broadening its shared-growth management through voluntary giving by employees and community-tailored social contribution programs.
The Special Merit Award, presented by the chairman of the Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy, went to Seoul Housing & Urban Development Corporation, known as SH. The corporation was recognized for supporting housing stability for non-homeowners through Shift, its long-term jeonse housing program, and for contributing to housing welfare by supplying a range of public housing including the Mirinae Home units.