'Mother of Buldak' Kim Jungsu Promoted to Chairman of Samyang Foods (Comprehensive)

Inauguration Set for Next Month 1st... Five Years After Promotion to Vice Chairman

Joined After Company Faced Bankruptcy... Led Development of Buldak Bokkeum Myeon

Inspired by a Walk in Myeong-dong in 2010

Revenue Soared from 642 Bill

Yonhap News

'The Mother of Buldak,' Kim Jeongsu, Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods, will be promoted to Chairman. Once an ordinary housewife, Kim joined Samyang Foods during a moment of crisis when the company faced bankruptcy, developed Buldak Bokkeummyeon, and has since led a global craze for the product.

Samyang Foods announced on May 15 that its board of directors held a meeting on the 12th and resolved to promote Vice Chairman Kim to Chairman. Her inauguration is set for the 1st of next month. This promotion comes about five years after she was promoted from Chief Operating Officer to Vice Chairman in December 2021. Samyang Foods explained, "This promotion is a decision aimed at strengthening leadership and responsible management in response to the growth of our global business."

Vice Chairman Kim is the key figure behind the development of Buldak Bokkeummyeon, which has become Samyang's flagship brand. In 2010, she was inspired to develop a highly addictive spicy ramen after seeing her high school-aged daughter finish off a plate of spicy dakgalbi while walking in Myeongdong, Seoul. During the product development process, 1,200 chickens and 2 tons of sauce were used, and Kim herself sampled the product daily to find a uniquely Korean umami-infused spiciness.

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

On the back of Buldak Bokkeummyeon, Samyang Foods has, in recent years, been actively establishing sales subsidiaries and production plants in major export markets such as the United States, China, and Europe. Through these efforts, the company has rapidly expanded its global business, with overseas sales now accounting for 80% of total revenue. Samyang Foods' sales grew from 642 billion won in 2021, when Kim became Vice Chairman, to 2.3517 trillion won last year. The operating margin also rose from 10% to 22%. The company explained that, as its business portfolio and management scope have expanded, there is a greater need for integrated leadership covering the global market.

Kim is the daughter-in-law of the late Jeon Joong-yun, the founder and Honorary Chairman of Samyang Foods. When Samyang Foods went bankrupt during the IMF crisis, she joined the company in 1998 to support her husband, former Chairman Jeon In-jang. Although she had no prior business management experience and was a full-time homemaker, she leveraged her own consumer experiences, traveled directly to sales offices across the country, and was deeply involved in product development, reportedly dedicating herself to the survival of the company. This drew attention both domestically and internationally, as it was unusual for a daughter-in-law to save a company in a landscape where most large Korean corporations are led by male heirs of the founders.

With Kim's promotion, Samyang Foods is expected to accelerate its transition to a global management system. This year, the company plans to expand its business foundation to strengthen regional and country-specific strategies. In addition to the new factory under construction in Jiaxing, China, the company is considering establishing additional regional liaison offices. The profitability-focused value-up strategy and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management that Kim pursued during her tenure as Vice Chairman are also expected to be reinforced. Last May, Samyang Foods was included in the MSCI Index and was recognized as an excellent value-up company.

Since 2021, Kim has served as Chair of the ESG Committee, working to establish a sustainable management system. In addition, she joined the executive board of the Federation of Korean Industries in 2024 and the executive board of the Korea International Trade Association last year. In recognition of her contributions to business performance and enhancing industry competitiveness, she was awarded the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, the Korea Image Award, and, as the first female executive, the Korea Management Association's CEO of the Year Award.

A Samyang Foods official stated, "Vice Chairman Kim's promotion is part of our efforts to strengthen responsible management for global market expansion and increased corporate value," adding, "From next month, under Chairman Kim's leadership, we will focus our company-wide capabilities on further strengthening the competitiveness of our global business and establishing a sustainable growth foundation."

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