Seoul: Samyang Foods Inc. announced on Friday that Vice Chairman Kim Jung-soo, the mastermind behind the Buldak ramyeon series, has been elevated to the position of chairman. This strategic move aims to bolster leadership effectiveness as the company experiences significant growth in its international operations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim's promotion to chairmanship comes five years after she assumed the role of vice chairman in 2021. Her new term is set to commence on June 1. Samyang Foods highlighted that this leadership change underscores the company's commitment to enhancing corporate social responsibility while navigating its expanding global business landscape.

Kim, who joined Samyang Foods in 1998, is the daughter-in-law of the late Honorary Chairman Chun Joong-yoon, the company's founder. She has been instrumental in transforming the Buldak ramyeon line into a globally recognized brand since its debut in 2012. Under her leadership, Samyang Foods' international sales have surged nearly twentyfold, reaching 1.9 trillion won (approximately US$1.27 billion) by 2025, compared to 93 billion won in 2016. Notably, approximately 80 percent of these sales originate from markets outside Korea.

In the first quarter of the current year, Samyang Foods reported sales totaling 714.4 billion won, alongside an operating profit of 177.1 billion won, marking increases of 35 percent and 32 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The impressive financial performance is largely attributed to a 38 percent rise in overseas sales, which reached 585 billion won.

The company's robust market presence has also positively impacted its stock value, with shares of Samyang Foods experiencing a notable rise of over 60 percent, reaching 1.23 million won by the end of last year.