'Wangga Tanghulu' CEO Summoned to National Audit, Who Is He?

Led by CEO Kim Sohyang, born in 1980
Headquartered in Busan with 420 stores nationwide
Witness appointed regarding youth sugar overconsumption

Kim Sohyang, CEO of Dalkomnara Alice, which operates the tanghulu specialty franchise 'Wangga Tanghulu,' has been selected as a witness for the National Assembly's audit in October, drawing attention to the background of this decision.

Tanghulu. [Image source=Dalkomnara Alice homepage]

According to related industries on the 26th, Dalkomnara Alice is operated by CEO Kim Sohyang, born in 1980. In addition, internal directors Jeon Jinhwan (born 1982) and Jung Cheolhun (born 1972) participate in management as members of the board of directors.

CEO Kim has been selected as a witness for the National Assembly audit scheduled for next month, and the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee appears to plan to question her about measures to reduce obesity rates related to excessive sugar consumption among adolescents.

Dalkomnara Alice, headquartered in Dongnae-gu, Busan, started its business by opening the first Wangga Tanghulu store in Ulsan in 2017, sparking a domestic tanghulu boom. In fact, on Dalkomnara Alice's official website, Wangga Tanghulu is introduced as Korea's first tanghulu specialty franchise.

Previously, both 'Wangga Tanghulu' and 'Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu' were used as trade names, but due to many consumers confusing them as different companies, the brand was unified to 'Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu' this month.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, the number of Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu stores was ▲16 in 2020 ▲11 in 2021 ▲43 in 2022, but as tanghulu's popularity recently surged, it has now increased to about 420 stores. This is an approximately tenfold increase in about a year.

Dalkomnara Alice plans to expand the number of stores to 450 within this year.

Additionally, Dalkomnara Alice operates a fruit beverage and dessert specialty store called 'Ttororo' alongside Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu.

Meanwhile, tanghulu, which is fruit skewered and coated with sugar syrup and hardened, has recently gained popularity mainly among young people.

According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation's Food Industry Statistical Information, from July 30 to September 9 (weeks 31 to 36 of 2023), the top two popular search terms in the frozen and convenience food category were both tanghulu-related keywords. The first place was Ice Tanghulu (frozen tanghulu), and the second was Tanghulu.