Dongwon states that its name embodies the concept of “East and Far”, reflecting the company’s initial ambition to expand from Korea into the global market. 1

1969–1979: From the sea

Dongwon was established in 1969 as Dongwon Industries, operating initially as a deep-sea fishing company. The founders viewed the ocean as a key opportunity for Korea’s economic development and began constructing a modern fishing operation.

Early milestones included the introduction of Dongwon Vessel No. 31, which the company describes as Korea’s first 500-ton mothership-type tuna longliner. Following this, Dongwon expanded its fishing capabilities, developing new grounds and techniques.

Consequently, the company’s original identity was fundamentally maritime rather than food-manufacturing.

Key early milestones:

• 1969: Dongwon Industries established.
• 1972: Expanded fishing grounds and developed new fishing methods.
• 1973: Introduced new vessels during the oil crisis.
• 1975: Built the 5,000-ton factory ship Dongsan.
• 1976: Established Dongwon Cold Storage.
• 1977–79: Expanded into additional businesses and established the Dongwon Education Foundation.

The birth of the Dongwon food brand

A significant transformation occurred in the 1980s when Dongwon moved downstream from catching seafood to processing and selling food products.

In 1982, Dongwon introduced canned tuna to the Korean domestic market. This product ultimately made “Dongwon” a household name in Korea. 2

This strategic shift allowed Dongwon to control more of the value chain, moving from raw fish supply to:

Fishing → seafood processing → packaged food → consumer brand

Other notable milestones during this period include:

• 1982: Dongwon canned tuna launched in Korea.
• 1986: Seongnam production facility completed; products such as crab sticks and fish cake were produced.
• 1986: Yangban dried seaweed launched.
• 1987: Dongil Frozen Food established.
• 1989: Dongwon Industries listed on the Korean stock exchange.

This era effectively created the modern Dongwon food business.

Today, the consumer-food sector of the group is primarily represented by Dongwon F&B (동원F&B).

Dongwon F&B operates as a global food company built around the philosophy that good food contributes to health and quality of life. Its portfolio has expanded far beyond tuna to include numerous food and beverage categories. 3

Portfolio includes:

• Canned seafood
• Tuna
• Salmon
• Seaweed
• Kimchi
• Ready-to-eat meals
• Frozen foods
• Processed meat
• Dairy products
• Beverages
• Health-oriented foods
• Pet food

Dongwon F&B currently lists hundreds of products across its portfolio. 3

Major brands within the portfolio:

• Dongwon
• Yangban
• Richam
• Grilley
• Denmark
• Hej

The Dongwon name remains particularly associated with canned tuna and other seafood products.

Dongwon tuna is widely considered the product that defines consumer perception of the company. Prior to the domestic introduction of canned tuna in 1982, it was not an established mainstream food category in Korea. Dongwon played a pivotal role in creating and popularizing this market.

The company leveraged its existing expertise in catching tuna at sea to establish vertical integration:
Ocean → fishing fleet → seafood processing → canned product → supermarket

This integration became a defining characteristic of the Dongwon business model. In Korea, “Dongwon tuna” became nearly synonymous with canned tuna itself. The company continues to describe its tuna business as one of the foundational elements of its food brand.

Dongwon has evolved beyond being solely a fishing or food company. The group organizes its operations into several major areas.

Ocean & Logistics

This segment aligns closely with Dongwon’s original identity. It includes:

• Dongwon Industries
• Dongwon Loex
• Dongwon Cold Storage
• Dongwon Global Terminal Busan
• BIDC

The group operates fishing fleets, seafood businesses, cold-chain infrastructure, logistics operations, and port facilities. 4 Dongwon Industries describes itself as an integrated seafood company with a major global fleet and logistics capabilities.

Food & Distribution

This is the consumer-facing side most commonly associated with Dongwon. Major companies include:

• Dongwon F&B
• Dongwon Home Food
• Dongwon Farms

Dongwon reports offering more than 3,000 food products across its broader food business, positioning itself as a “Total Protein Provider.”

Lifestyle & Services

The group has expanded into industrial and service businesses, including:

• Dongwon Systems
• Dongwon Construction Industries
• Dongwon CNS
• Dongwon Technology Investment

Dongwon Systems plays a crucial role in the group’s materials and packaging activities. The group states it is also developing advanced aseptic packaging and secondary-battery-related materials.

A significant aspect of Dongwon’s history is its transition from a Korean fishing entity to an international business. A notable acquisition was StarKist, a major American tuna brand. StarKist provides Dongwon with substantial presence in the U.S. packaged seafood market and supports the group’s strategy of building a global seafood and food platform. Dongwon also maintains seafood operations in locations such as Senegal.

Current global portfolio includes:

• StarKist
• TALOFA SYSTEMS
• S.C.A SA
• CAPSEN
• TTP

among others.

This structure reflects a combination of a Korean consumer brand, global seafood production, international logistics, and foreign consumer brands.

In 2022, a major corporate restructuring took place. Dongwon Industries merged with Dongwon Enterprises to become the business holding company of Dongwon Group. This move aimed to improve management efficiency, strengthen synergies among subsidiaries, and enhance global competitiveness.

Dongwon is best understood today not as a single company selling tuna, but as a corporate group with Dongwon Industries at its center.

Simplified Structure:
DONGWON GROUP
│
Dongwon Industries
│
┌────────────────┼────────────────┐
│ │ │
Ocean & Logistics Food & Distribution Lifestyle/Services
│ │ │
Dongwon Industries Dongwon F&B Dongwon Systems
Dongwon Loex Dongwon Home Food Construction
Cold Storage Dongwon Farms Technology/Investment
│
└──────────── Global Businesses
│
StarKist
S.C.A SA
TALOFA SYSTEMS
etc.
(Note: This is a simplified representation rather than a complete legal ownership chart.)

Dongwon’s corporate visual identity is strongly associated with blue. The company states that its rounded, bold wordmark is designed to communicate trustworthiness and approachability, while its globe symbol represents international expansion and the ambition to enrich people’s lives.

Principal Corporate Colors:

• Dongwon Blue: #0065BD
• Secondary Light Blue: #00A9E0

In 2025, Dongwon introduced a new brand identity centered on the phrase:

“The Responsible Answer”

This concept reflects Dongwon’s stated philosophy of identifying societal needs and responding to them responsibly.

Given its origins in marine resources, sustainability is a critical focus for Dongwon. The company reports pursuing initiatives including:

• Sustainable fisheries management
• MSC certification
• Reduction of marine plastics
• Marine conservation
• Environmentally responsible fishing
• Development of land-based aquaculture

Dongwon was also a founding member of SeaBOS, a global initiative involving major seafood companies focused on improving industry sustainability.

Dongwon’s philosophy has evolved alongside the company. Originally focused on discovering the value of the ocean and expanding beyond Korea, the modern philosophy is encapsulated by:

“The Responsible Answer”

The underlying idea is that a company should identify society’s needs and provide responsible solutions. Dongwon describes its growth strategy as “Chain Innovation,” connecting various businesses and industries into complementary value chains rather than treating them as isolated operations.

Examples of these chains include:

• Fishing → seafood → food manufacturing → distribution → logistics
• Packaging → food → logistics → global distribution

Understanding the different entities within the group is useful for research:

A Dongwon tuna can represents the consumer side of a larger corporate group with roots in Korean deep-sea fishing dating back to 1969.

Dongwon is a Korean conglomerate that evolved from a 1969 deep-sea fishing company into a vertically integrated global group spanning seafood, food brands, logistics, packaging, materials and technology—with canned Dongwon Tuna serving as its most recognizable consumer product.

1. Official Dongwon Group website
2. 동원그룹 – 채용 홈페이지
3. F&B Story – Dongwon F&B
4. Product – Dongwon F&B