Mars Korea has been named Fortune magazine’s 2010 “Great Workplace in Korea,” an honor that Kwangho Kim, Mars Korea General Manager, says reflects the company’s efforts to create a culture of open communication based on the Five Principles.

Specifically, the judges cite the high level of freedom and responsibility given to individual Mars Korea employees.

Produced by the globally recognized Great Place To Work Institute, the annual award was launched in Korea in 2002. More than 100 companies participated this year, including Korean giants LG, Hyundai, Shinhan Bank, Samsung and Pulmuone. This is the first time Mars Korea has participated.

“The award is a testament to the hard work our Associates have put in, and the efforts everyone has made to create a collaborative, team-oriented atmosphere,” Kim said.

“I’m not surprised we won,” said GT-Petcare Channel Manager Joshua Yoon. “I’ve been working here for 3 years, and I already know what Fortune has just confirmed: This is a great place to work. We are a team here, with everyone working together toward common goals.”

According to Fortune, Mars impressed the judges with its positive workplace culture, opportunities for employees to grow and gain experience in sectors outside of their specialty areas, and its commitment to the Five Principles.

“When we looked more closely at Mars, what we saw is a company that constantly improves the workplace experience of its associates,” said Bangguen Chi, CEO of the GWP Korea Institute.

Ji-young Sung, an Associate Fellow at the GWP Korea Institute, said the institute liked the attitude of Mars Associates. “We were impressed with the positive atmosphere, and enthusiasm everyone showed for contributing their efforts to the team’s success,” Ji-young said.

Kim said Mars Korea has a workplace culture that is unique compared with other local companies. Associates are encouraged to contribute to meeting the team’s objectives while also pursuing their own goals.

“We decided to participate in this survey because we wanted external feedback to help us measure how good a job we were doing of creating a positive workplace atmosphere,” Kim said.

Mars received the honor at an awards ceremony hosted by the GWP Korea Institute December 1 at the Ritz-Carlton in Seoul.

“It was a great honor, but we don’t plan to stand still,” said Kim. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve, and we certainly don’t plan to stop now.”