In a move that underscores both the remarkable turnaround and global ambitions of Samyang Foods, the company has announced the promotion of Kim Jeong-su from Vice Chairman to Chairman, effective June 1, 2026. The decision, made official by a board resolution on May 12, comes after five years of extraordinary growth and transformation under Kim’s leadership, with the company’s flagship product, Buldak Bokkeum Myun (Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen), at the heart of its success story.
Kim’s ascent to the top job is more than just a routine executive shuffle. According to Fortune Korea, it is a strategic move aimed at strengthening global competitiveness and consolidating the company’s leadership as Samyang Foods continues its rapid expansion overseas. The board’s decision was driven by the need for “integrated leadership and responsible management in response to global business growth,” as overseas sales now account for a staggering 80% of the company’s total revenue.
The numbers tell the story. When Kim was promoted to Vice Chairman in 2021, Samyang Foods’ annual sales stood at 642 billion KRW. By 2025, that figure had soared to 2.3517 trillion KRW, with the operating profit margin more than doubling from 10% to 22% over the same period. The first quarter of 2026 saw both sales and operating profit jump by approximately 35% and 32% respectively compared to the previous year—setting new quarterly records and fueling expectations that annual sales could soon reach the 3 trillion KRW mark.
Kim Jeong-su’s journey is nothing short of cinematic. As reported by Newsworks, she joined Samyang Foods in 1998 at the urging of her father-in-law, the late founder Jeon Jung-yoon, when the company was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy amid the Asian financial crisis. Despite having no prior management experience, Kim stepped into the role of Head of Sales, trading her life as a homemaker for the daunting challenge of reviving a struggling family business.
The turning point came in 2011 during a stroll with her daughter through Seoul’s bustling Myeongdong district. Kim noticed a long line of customers sweating but undeterred as they waited for a taste of spicy chicken. Inspired, she quickly mobilized the marketing and R&D teams to develop what would become Buldak Bokkeum Myun. Launched in 2012, the product initially saw modest sales. However, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun, everything changed in 2014 when the “Fire Noodle Challenge” swept English-language YouTube, catapulting the ramen into a global sensation.
The impact has been nothing short of phenomenal. Cumulative sales of Buldak Bokkeum Myun have reached 9 billion units, generating total revenue of 6.2 trillion KRW. Overseas sales, which stood at 93 billion KRW in 2016, skyrocketed to 1.8838 trillion KRW by 2025—a 20-fold increase. The overseas sales ratio leapt from 26% to 80%, and in 2025 alone, exports of the fiery noodles were worth $900 million, accounting for about 60% of Korea’s ramen exports, as detailed by Fortune Korea.
Samyang Foods’ international strategy has been anything but one-size-fits-all. The company has tailored its approach for each market: in Japan, it optimized product specifications and sales tactics to fit the convenience store-centric retail landscape; in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, it secured halal certification early, lowering barriers to entry. The company has also ramped up its physical presence abroad, establishing sales subsidiaries and production plants in the US, China, and Europe. A major factory is currently under construction in Jiaxing, China, and additional regional liaison offices are under consideration, according to Straight News and Think Food.
Kim’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. She has received a string of accolades, including the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award in 2017, the Silver Tower Industrial Medal in 2025 for her contributions to food export expansion and industrial competitiveness, and, in 2026, she became the first female executive to win the “Korea Manager Award” from the Korean Management Association. She was also honored with the Korea Image Award and recognized for her role in building a robust ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management system as chair of the ESG Committee since 2021. Her involvement in economic diplomacy has seen her join the leadership of the Korea Economic Association in 2024 and the Korea International Trade Association in 2025.
The company’s current momentum is set to accelerate under Kim’s stewardship. As reported by The Hankyoreh, Samyang Foods plans to further segment its regional and national strategies and expand its global business foundation, with all organizational capabilities focused on “strengthening global business competitiveness and sustainable growth.” The company’s inclusion in the MSCI index in 2025 and recognition as a value-up excellent company further underscore its rising international profile.
Kim’s story resonates beyond the business pages. It’s a rare example of a homemaker daughter-in-law transforming a family business in crisis into a global powerhouse—a narrative reminiscent of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, who took over the Veuve Clicquot champagne house in France in 1805. As Newsworks noted, such stories are “hard to find anywhere in the world.”
In a statement, a Samyang Foods spokesperson said, “With Chairman Kim’s leadership, we plan to concentrate all our efforts on reinforcing global business competitiveness and building a foundation for sustainable growth.” The company’s swift adaptation to changing global consumer tastes, coupled with Kim’s vision and willingness to embrace bold strategies, has redefined what it means to be a Korean food exporter in the 21st century.
Looking ahead, Samyang Foods is poised to continue its upward trajectory. With Kim Jeong-su at the helm, the company is not just riding the wave of Buldak Bokkeum Myun’s global popularity—it’s setting its sights on new heights, determined to build on its legacy and shape the future of the global food industry.