'Mother of Buldak' Kim Jeongsu Promoted to Chairman of Samyang Foods

To Take Office on June 1... First Promotion to Chairman in Five Years
Sales Soared from KRW 642 Billion to KRW 2.35 Trillion in Five Years
"Leadership to Respond to Global Business Growth"

Kim Jeongsu, known as the "Mother of Buldak," Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods, will be promoted to Chairman.

Samyang Foods announced on the 15th that its board of directors held a meeting on the 12th and resolved to promote Vice Chairman Kim to the position of Chairman. She will officially assume the role on the 1st of next month. This marks about five years since her last promotion from Chief Operating Officer to Vice Chairman in December 2021. Samyang Foods explained, "This promotion is aimed at strengthening leadership and responsible management in response to the growth of the global business."

In recent years, Samyang Foods has been pushing to establish sales subsidiaries and manufacturing plants in major export markets, including the United States, China, and Europe. Through these efforts, the company rapidly expanded its global business, and overseas revenue now accounts for 80% of total sales. With an expanded business portfolio and management scope, there is an increasing need for integrated leadership that spans the entire global market.

Kim Jeongsoo, Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods, who will be promoted to Chairman on the 1st of next month. Provided by Samyang Foods

With Vice Chairman Kim's promotion, Samyang Foods is expected to accelerate its transition to a global management structure. This year, the company plans to further strengthen its business foundation by enhancing strategies tailored to each region and country. In addition to the new manufacturing plant currently under construction in Jiaxing, China, Samyang Foods is also considering establishing additional regional liaison offices. The company is expected to further reinforce the value-up strategy centered on profitability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management, which have been promoted during her tenure as Vice Chairman.

Samyang Foods' sales grew from 642 billion won in 2021, when Vice Chairman Kim first assumed her position, to 2.3517 trillion won last year. The operating margin increased from 10% to 22%. Last May, Samyang Foods was included in the MSCI index and was selected as an outstanding value-up company.

Additionally, since 2021, Vice Chairman Kim has served as the chair of the ESG Committee, dedicating efforts to establishing a sustainable management system. She has also joined the executive boards of the Federation of Korean Industries in 2024 and the Korea International Trade Association last year. In recognition of her contributions to management performance and enhancing industrial competitiveness, she received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, the Korea Image Award, and became the first female executive to be named "Korea’s CEO of the Year" by the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration.

A Samyang Foods official stated, "Vice Chairman Kim's promotion is intended to reinforce responsible management for global market expansion and enhancement of corporate value," adding, "Starting next month, under Chairman Kim's leadership, the company will focus all its capabilities on strengthening global business competitiveness and establishing a sustainable growth foundation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.