[Exclusive] Twosome Joins the 'Duchonku' Craze Introduced by Jang Wonyoung... 'Dubai Strawberry Chocolate Fresh Cream Cake' to Launch

Scheduled for Release in January
AI-Generated Images Already Spreading on Social Media

Twosome Place has confirmed the launch of its "Dubai Strawberry Chocolate Fresh Cream Cake" (Dubai Seuchosaeng), riding the wave of popularity generated by its "Dubai Chewy Cookie" (Duchonku). The company plans to expand the popularity of Dubai-themed desserts into its cake lineup, aiming to capture premium demand during the winter season.

According to industry sources on January 14, Twosome Place is scheduled to release "Dubai Seuchosaeng" later this month. The new product is expected to be a mini-sized cake rather than a whole cake, unlike the existing "Seuchosaeng." The price is also likely to be set below 30,000 won. This move is interpreted as targeting consumers who want to enjoy signature winter cakes at a more affordable price point.

Even before its launch, market interest is high. Images of "Dubai Seuchosaeng" generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are being shared on social media, heightening anticipation.

Recently, on social media, some consumers have been sharing ways to enjoy the existing "Seuchosaeng" with pistachio spread, drawing attention. As consumers have increasingly combined Seuchosaeng with pistachio kadaif spread-a key ingredient in Dubai desserts-there has been a natural rise in expectations for a Dubai-themed cake, driven by these spontaneous consumer experiments.

Dubai Early AI Utilization Image. SNS Capture

This new product also aligns with Twosome Place's seasonal strategy. Every year, Twosome Place focuses on launching premium cakes during the strawberry season and around Valentine's Day in January and February. In particular, "Seuchosaeng" is considered the brand's signature product for the winter season, with cumulative sales exceeding 10 million units, making it a steady seller that represents the brand. "Dubai Seuchosaeng" is an extension of this strategy, and there is also talk of introducing a "Matcha Seuchosaeng" during the same period.

Duchonku, which drew attention in 2024 and was inspired by Dubai chocolate, features a filling of pistachio spread and crispy Middle Eastern-style kadaif noodles, all wrapped in a chewy texture created by melting chocolate and marshmallows.

Duchonku quickly gained widespread recognition after being mentioned by celebrities. Jang Wonyoung, a member of the girl group IVE, introduced Duchonku on social media in September last year, attracting attention. Mentions by actors Go Yoonjung and Kim Sejeong further fueled the buzz. A video of chef Ahn Sungjae, known as a judge on "Black and White Chef," attempting to make Duchonku with his daughter but ending up with a completely different result, also drew significant interest.

As a result, the food industry has been rolling out new products inspired by the Duchonku concept. Dunkin, operated by BR Korea, launched the "K-Dubai Style Black Sesame Donut" in October last year, while dessert brand Knotted introduced three types of Dubai donuts last month. The "Dubai Choco Sulbing" from the shaved ice franchise Sulbing, released in January last year, has recently regained popularity on social media. Paris Croissant has also launched the "Dubai Style Chewy Ball." The Dubai concept is rapidly spreading across bakeries, donuts, shaved ice, and cakes, establishing itself as a new keyword in the dessert market.

Industry insiders do not view the Dubai dessert trend as a mere passing fad. They analyze that the combination of exotic imagery, premium ingredients, and visual appeal makes it highly valuable for brand strategy by differentiating products as premium desserts.

An industry official stated, "Duchonku is not simply a product that borrows an overseas concept, but a dessert localized to suit the tastes of Korean consumers in terms of texture and ingredient combinations. Its structure allows for continuous new product development, so rather than being a short-lived trend, it is highly likely to become a trend that lasts for a certain period."