ChongKunDang (Korean: 종근당, Hanja: 鍾根堂; commonly abbreviated CKD) is a prominent South Korean pharmaceutical enterprise headquartered in Seoul. The company’s core operations encompass the research, manufacture, marketing, and sale of pharmaceutical products, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, health-related items, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Tracing its origins to May 7, 1941, ChongKunDang stands as one of the longest-established manufacturers in the South Korean pharmaceutical sector.

The name ChongKunDang also refers to the broader ChongKunDang Group, which includes several healthcare entities such as ChongKunDang Pharmaceutical, CKD BiO, Kyongbo Pharm, and ChongKunDang Healthcare. The current pharmaceutical operating entity was separated from the group’s previous structure in November 2013.

The corporate mission of ChongKunDang is articulated as “Better Life through Better Medicine,” reflecting a commitment to developing high-quality medications that enhance public welfare and quality of life.1

Foundation (1941)

The history of ChongKunDang began on May 7, 1941, when founder Lee Jong-kun established a pharmacy in Seoul. Originally known as Gungbon Pharmacy, the business operated primarily as a retail outlet rather than a large-scale manufacturer.2 Following the end of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, the company adopted the name ChongKunDang in 1946 and began transitioning from retailing toward manufacturing and research.

Development of Manufacturing Capabilities

A significant milestone occurred in 1949 with the establishment of the company’s first research laboratory. During this period, ChongKunDang invested heavily in manufacturing technology, addressing Korea’s heavy reliance on imported pharmaceutical raw materials.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the company expanded its production capabilities. In 1956, ChongKunDang Pharmaceutical Corp. was formally established, producing approximately 30 pharmaceutical products at that time. The development of large-scale chemical-synthesis and fermentation facilities helped establish domestic production capabilities for key ingredients, playing a crucial role in modernizing Korea’s pharmaceutical industry.

International Expansion

In 1968, ChongKunDang achieved a landmark international milestone when one of its pharmaceutical ingredients received U.S. FDA approval. The company cites this as the first U.S. FDA approval obtained by a Korean pharmaceutical firm, marking a pivotal starting point for Korean pharmaceutical exports.3 Subsequently, the company expanded its export markets to include the United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia, with its ingredient business becoming a cornerstone of its international growth.

Growth in the Late 20th Century

From the 1970s through the 1990s, ChongKunDang focused on expanding infrastructure and portfolios. Key developments included:

• Construction of a major fermentation plant in 1974.
• Expansion of antibiotic and API production for overseas markets.
• Advancement of fermentation technology for antibiotics.
• Entry into immunosuppressive and specialized ingredient markets.

The 1990s marked a shift toward a more research-oriented model. Notably, the company developed cyclosporine A, an immunosuppressant used in transplantation medicine, and strengthened its central research organization.

On November 5, 2013, ChongKunDang underwent a corporate split that separated the pharmaceutical operating company from the holding-company structure. This resulted in the formation of the modern ChongKunDang Pharmaceutical Corp., while ChongKunDang Holdings became the parent entity for the wider group.

It is important to distinguish between the two entities:

• ChongKunDang Pharmaceutical: Focuses on prescription and OTC pharmaceuticals.
• CKD BiO: Handles pharmaceutical ingredients and biotechnology activities.
• Kyongbo Pharm: Engages in pharmaceutical manufacturing and business.
• ChongKunDang Healthcare: Manages health and consumer-health businesses.

ChongKunDang operates across a broad spectrum of pharmaceutical categories.

Prescription Medicines

The company develops and markets drugs in areas such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, oncology, immunosuppression, neurological diseases, and other chronic conditions. Its portfolio includes both internally developed products and those obtained through licensing or partnerships.

Notable internally developed brands include:

• Camptobell: An oncology product based on a camptothecin-derived anticancer compound, representing a move beyond generic manufacturing.
• Duvie: A treatment for type 2 diabetes, highlighting the company’s investment in innovative drug discovery.

Other listed products include:

• Dilatrend: Cardiovascular medicine.
• Telminuvo: Antihypertensive medicine.
• Lipilou: Lipid-lowering medicine.
• Tacrobell: Immunosuppressant.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

ChongKunDang maintains a substantial OTC presence in South Korea with long-established consumer brands, including:

• Penzal: Analgesic/headache medicine.
• Zelcom: Anthelmintic/deworming medicine.
• Sok-chung / Sokcheong: Digestive medicine.
• Prefemine
• Modcol
• Benfobel: High-dose vitamin product.

R&D is central to ChongKunDang’s modern identity. The company pursues “First-in-Class” medicines targeting unmet medical needs in difficult-to-treat diseases, rare diseases, and cancer. Research activities have evolved from early ingredient and fermentation studies to modern drug discovery, new chemical entities, improved medicines, and biologics.

The Hyo-Jong Research Center serves as a key component of its strategy to develop globally competitive medicines. Current research interests include oncology, diabetes and metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, immunology, rare diseases, biopharmaceuticals, and novel drug mechanisms. The company has highlighted its HDAC6-selective inhibitor technology platform and candidates such as CKD-516 and CKD-581.

While historically strongest in South Korea, ChongKunDang has increasingly prioritized international expansion. The company exports products and ingredients to markets across Asia, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Africa.

Key international milestones include:

• Establishment of a representative office in Vietnam in 2012.
• Formation of PT CKD OTTO Pharmaceuticals, a joint venture in Indonesia, in 2015.

The Indonesian operation has been developed as a manufacturing base. ChongKunDang states that an anticancer-drug factory constructed in Indonesia received halal certification, supporting manufacturing and distribution in regional and international markets.

ChongKunDang’s business model comprises four main pillars:

1. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Production of prescription and OTC medicines supported by Korean facilities.
2. Proprietary Drug Development: Investment in discovering and developing new drugs like Duvie and Camptobell, rather than relying solely on generics.
3. Licensing and Partnerships: Historical collaborations with international firms such as Roche, Bayer, Pfizer, MSD, Amgen, and Allergan.
4. International Expansion: Combining exports with local partnerships, representative offices, and overseas manufacturing.

ChongKunDang holds a notable position in the development of the Korean pharmaceutical industry. Its historical significance lies in facilitating the transition from import dependence to domestic manufacturing. By investing in chemical-synthesis and fermentation facilities, the company enabled the local production of essential pharmaceutical ingredients during Korea’s early industrial stages.

The 1968 U.S. FDA approval remains a frequently cited milestone, representing early international validation of Korean manufacturing standards. The Korean Encyclopedia of Culture and History recognizes ChongKunDang as a manufacturer founded in 1941, underscoring its enduring legacy.

ChongKunDang’s brand identity is rooted in Korean pharmaceutical heritage, scientific research, and long-term healthcare, distinct from conventional consumer lifestyle branding. The corporate message, “Better Life through Better Medicine,” reflects its positioning as a pharmaceutical innovator. The company emphasizes a technological progression from pharmaceutical ingredients to innovative medicines and finally to biopharmaceuticals, capturing its transformation into an internationally oriented drug-development company.

ChongKunDang is not merely a brand but a historic South Korean pharmaceutical institution. Founded in 1941, it evolved from a small pharmacy into a vertically integrated organization involved in drug research, ingredient manufacturing, prescription and OTC products, biotechnology, and international business. Its historical importance stems from helping Korea develop domestic manufacturing capabilities, while its current focus centers on proprietary drug discovery and global development. When discussing the company’s products, financials, or subsidiaries, it is useful to distinguish between ChongKunDang Pharmaceutical Corp. and the parent entity, ChongKunDang Holdings.

1. CHONG KUN DANG HOLDINGS
2. Chong Kun Dang official website
3. Chong Kun Dang