At 40, a Second Golden Age: Personalization Captivates Young Generation, Sales Jump 290%

Kancho "Find Your Name" Event in Full Swing
Sales Surge Over 200% Compared to Previous Month

Recently, the "Finding Your Kancho Name" challenge has been gaining popularity on social media. Singer and actress IU (real name Lee Jieun) participated in the challenge but ultimately failed to find her own name. On the 21st, during a live broadcast on the global fan platform "Berryz," IU responded to a fan's comment asking, "Do you know your name is written on Kancho?" She replied, as if she had been waiting for the question, "I came prepared," and pulled out a bag of Kancho. Confidently, IU said, "Since my name is quite common, I thought it would come up right away," but the result was different.

Singer and actress IU (real name Lee Jieun) took on the challenge of finding her Kancho name. Online community

Cheerfully opening the first bag of cookies, IU called out the names she found, leaving messages such as, "Yubin~ Is Yubin here? Youngju, are you watching? Dowon, are you having a good Saturday? Yunwoo, Yuchan, Sohee, Namgyu, Hyeonjeong, Juwon, Hyein, Donghwa, I’m always cheering for you guys." She began to sense something was off, saying, "Since my name is pretty common, I thought it would show up right away, but surprisingly, it’s not here." She tried to reassure herself, adding, "I thought it would come out on the first try, but there really are so many names in the world," before opening a second bag. IU commented, "Haeun, Youngjin, Yuan-Yuan is such a pretty name," but then said with a pout, "I don’t think my name will show up. I guess Jieun isn’t here after all."

In the end, even after opening the last bag, she couldn’t find "Jieun." IU looked disappointed, saying, "There’s even Ji-hye and Jian." When a staff member handed her a "Jieun" Kancho made by piecing together "Ji" and "Eun" from different cookies, IU remarked with a bittersweet smile, "It is Jieun, but they just stuck the pieces together." Fans who watched the broadcast responded with comments like, "Jieun really is the only one missing," and "It’s surprisingly hard to find your own name."

‘Kancho Kkang’ Becomes a Buzzword Alongside SNS Proof Shots

Kancho, launched in 1984, has been a long-standing brand with steady sales over the years. However, the snack market has recently become highly competitive with an influx of new products and limited editions. Amidst this, Kancho is gaining popularity by creating a connection with the younger generation through the keyword "personalization." Starting from the 11th of this month, Kancho has been randomly printing a total of 504 names-including 500 of the most commonly registered newborn names in Korea and four official character names (Kani, Choni, Chobi, and Lovey)-on its cookies. Consumers who find their own, a family member’s, friend’s, or partner’s name and post a proof shot online can enter a drawing for prizes.

Kancho, launched in 1984, has been a long-standing brand with steady sales over the years. However, the snack market has recently become highly competitive with an influx of new products and limited editions. Amidst this, Kancho is gaining popularity by creating a connection with the younger generation through the keyword "personalization." Screenshot from SNS

This event has been particularly well received by the younger generation. On social networking services, people are posting proof shots of finding their own name or the name of a favorite singer or actor. The term "Kancho Kkang" has also emerged, referring to the act of opening numerous Kancho cookies in search of a specific name. Consumers enjoy the excitement of discovering "my name" as they open each bag, and treat the event as a game by posting proof shots when they find the names of celebrities or acquaintances. Participation is even more enthusiastic because those who succeed in finding a name are given a chance to win prizes. What began as a simple snack purchase has transformed into an event combining personalized experiences and game elements. As IU and other influencers and celebrities join the challenge, Kancho has seen a sharp increase in sales in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

According to the convenience store industry on the 22nd, the average daily sales of Kancho at GS25 surged by 289.6% compared to the previous month. At Seven Eleven, sales increased by 150% year-on-year, while Emart24 saw a 102% rise compared to the previous month. At CU, sales from the 11th to the 18th jumped 210.2% from the previous month. At some locations, sales during the same period soared by more than 180% compared to the previous year.