Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
Dongwon F&B expands global presence with Korean-style prepared meals
Dongwon F&B's Yangban brand Korean-style prepared meals/ Courtesy of Dongwon F&B
By Park Jae-hyuk
Dongwon F&B is solidifying its status as the leading producer of Korean-style prepared meals with its Yangban home meal replacement brand.
During the 2025 New York Festivals Korea-National Brand Awards last month, the food and beverage maker won the grand award in the Korean-style home meal replacement category, demonstrating growing brand awareness for Yangban.
New York Festivals, the organizer of one of the world's most renowned advertising awards, hosts the Korea-National Brand Awards to select the most valuable and competitive brands in the country.
"We will continue to develop globally popular K-foods and export them, so that Yangban can become the global No. 1 Korean food brand," a Dongwon F&B official said.
Dongwon F&B has produced various Korean-style prepared meals under the Yangban brand since 1986 when the company launched Yangban Gim, Korea's leading seasoned seaweed brand.
The company emphasized that its high-quality seasoned seaweed is now sold in more than 30 countries, including Japan, Thailand and the United States. Since receiving Halal certification in 2016, Dongwon F&B has exported its seaweed to Muslim-majority countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
"Our crispy seaweed chips are especially popular among consumers in the U.S. and Japan," the official said.
Dongwon F&B's instant rice porridge products, branded as Yangban Juk and launched in 1992, are also well known both domestically and abroad.
Since first exporting the instant rice porridge in 2001, the company has sold it in the U.S., Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Dongwon F&B said it has developed more than 20 types of porridge using a variety of ingredients including tuna, abalone, beef, vegetables and red bean.
According to the company, cumulative sales of its instant porridge surpassed 1 billion bowls last year.
"Through various marketing campaigns, including collaborations with other brands and social contribution activities, we will raise awareness of Yangban as the leading Korean food brand," the official said.