How much did Yuhan Corp. spend on R&D in the first half of 2026?

Yuhan Corp. invested 122.2 billion won in research and development during the January-June period. The company said that amounted to 10.5 percent of its first-half sales and was up 13.8 percent from the same period last year.

Why are major Korean drugmakers increasing R&D spending?

The companies are spending heavily on new drug development in an apparent bid to secure future growth engines. Hanmi Pharm also said it launched an initiative in 2023 to develop a new pipeline of obesity drugs.

Which other pharmaceutical companies reported large first-half R&D investments?

Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. spent 113.5 billion won, Hanmi Pharm spent 125.5 billion won, GC Biopharm Co. spent 85.9 billion won, and Daewoong Pharma invested 115.7 billion won. The article said other mid-sized pharmaceutical companies also spent around 10 percent of their first-half revenue on new drug development.

Korea's top pharmaceutical firms spend over $72.13 mil. each in first hald of the year for R&D: data

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Summary

Korea’s major pharmaceutical companies spent around 100 billion won each in the first half on new drug R&D, with Yuhan Corp., Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. and Hanmi Pharm all reporting large investments. The spending reflects an effort to secure future growth engines. Mid-sized drugmakers also showed similar patterns, with several devoting around 10 percent of first-half revenue to research.

Key Facts

Yuhan Corp. invested 122.2 billion won in R&D from January to June, up 13.8 percent from a year earlier.
Yuhan said the amount accounted for 10.5 percent of its first-half sales.
Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. spent 113.5 billion won on new drug development, equal to 12.3 percent of its first-half sales, and the figure was up 36.6 percent from the first half of 2025.
Hanmi Pharm Co. spent 125.5 billion won on R&D, or 14.6 percent of its half-year sales.
GC Biopharm Co. spent 85.9 billion won on R&D, while Daewoong Pharma invested 115.7 billion won.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 23, 2026 12:01 pm KST

Participants attend a pharmaceutical and bio convention held in southern Seoul, in this 2025 file photo. Yonhap

Korea's major pharmaceutical companies spent around 100 billion won ($72.13 million) each in the first half for the research and development (R&D) of new drugs, data showed Sunday, in an apparent bid to secure future growth engines.

Yuhan Corp., famous for its anti-inflammatory ointment Antiphlamine, said in a regulatory filing that it invested a total of 122.2 billion won in R&D during the January-June period, up 13.8 percent from the same period last year.

The amount accounts for 10.5 percent of sales generated during the first half of this year, according to its regulatory filing.

Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp., known for its household pain reliever Penzal, injected 113.5 billion won, or 12.3 percent of its first half sales, into new drug development.

The amount is up by 36.6 percent compared to its R&D spending in the first half of 2025, the company's regulatory filing showed.

Hanmi Pharm Co. also spent 125.5 billion won, or 14.6 percent of its half-year sales, on R&D this year, its regulatory disclosure showed. Hanmi Pharm launched an initiative in 2023 to develop a new pipeline of obesity drugs, according to a company official.

Other mid-sized pharmaceutical companies showed a similar trend, spending around 10 percent of their first half revenue this year on new drug development.

GC Biopharm Co. spent 85.9 billion won in R&D, while Daewoong Pharma invested 115.7 billion won.

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