KT&G renews Esse Golden Leaf design

KT&G Corp., Korea’s largest tobacco manufacturer, will roll out a repackaged version of its Esse Golden Leaf product at the end of January, the firm said Monday.

The cigarette packaging was created in collaboration with Najeonchilgi master Park Jae-seong, the firm said. Najeonchilgi is a traditional mother of pearl craft where colorful pieces of shellfish are inlaid on an object and then applied with a layer of lacquer.

Esse Golden Leaf

Esse Golden Leaf was first launched in 2007. Renowned fashion designer Lee Sang-bong designed the carton using calligraphy of Kim So-wol’s poem “Nimgwabeot (You and Friend).”

The product, made from high-quality cigarette leaves, has been receiving favorable responses both from domestic and foreign consumers.

It is currently the best-selling super-slim cigarette in the world and is exported to 40 countries, the tobacco producer said.

Esse Golden Leaf contains 3 milligrams of tar and 0.3 milligrams of nicotine. It is priced at 4,000 won ($3.50).

(youngaah@heraldcorp.com)