Dr Kong was founded in Hong Kong in 1999. The company’s official Chinese website identifies Kong Ping Lam (江炳霖) as the founder and president, while Hong Kong Brand Development Council records list the operating entity as Dr. Kong Footcare Limited.24

From its inception, the company sought to differentiate itself from conventional shoe retailers by combining sales with foot-care assessment. A principal innovation was the “Check & Fit” service, through which customers’ feet are assessed to recommend suitable insoles or footwear based on individual characteristics. This service was introduced as a professional foot examination and fitting solution for customers of varying ages.1

The company subsequently expanded product development beyond conventional footwear. Early focuses included children’s footwear, three-dimensional foot-care concepts, insoles and spinal-support products such as school bags.3

Major milestones

• 1999: Dr Kong was established in Hong Kong and opened its first specialist healthy-shoe store.2
• 2000: The company became a member of the US-based Pedorthic Footwear Association.3
• 2001: A custom insole centre was established to expand foot-care services.3
• 2003: Its spine-support school bag passed a test conducted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.3
• 2006: Dr Kong received the Hong Kong Top Brand designation.4
• 2008: The brand received the Hong Kong Premier Brand distinction and expanded its children’s footwear line and brand collaborations.4
• 2015: Dr Kong was awarded the Hong Kong Top Brand Ten Year Achievement Award.4

Dr Kong’s business model is predicated on selecting footwear according to the wearer’s foot characteristics rather than appearance or size alone. The company’s mission is frequently summarised through three pillars: Education, Product and Sales, collectively referred to as the “EPS mission.””1

Education

The brand promotes public awareness of foot and spinal health through retail outlets and communication channels. The retail concept includes an educational component encouraging customers to understand their own foot conditions before selecting footwear or care products.1

Product development

Product development targets specific age groups and foot shapes. The range encompasses children’s shoes, adult footwear, insoles, foot-care items and school bags. Designs include varied widths and structures intended to accommodate diverse foot morphologies.12

Retail service

The Check & Fit service remains one of the brand’s most recognisable features in Singapore. Customers undergo a foot assessment, after which staff recommend appropriate insoles or products. The Singapore operation describes this as a complimentary professional foot assessment and insole-fitting service available to both children and adults.1

Since its establishment, Dr Kong’s product portfolio has expanded significantly across multiple categories.

Children’s footwear

Children’s footwear constitutes a core category for the brand. Products cater to various developmental stages, including pre-walking shoes, early walking shoes, sports shoes and school shoes.2

A key concept is the ABC insole system, where different insoles are selected based on a child’s foot condition following assessment. This approach aims to provide individualised support for developing feet.1

Adult footwear

Dr Kong produces footwear for women and men, spanning casual, formal, sports and comfort-oriented styles. The design philosophy prioritises fit, support and everyday comfort alongside conventional aesthetics.4

Insoles and foot-care products

Insoles are integral to the Dr Kong business. Options include universal arch supports and specialised products designed for specific foot conditions.1

School bags

The brand markets school bags focused on spinal-pressure reduction and ergonomic design. The Singapore website describes the Spine-Pressure Free SchoolBag as being engineered to reduce spinal load compared to conventional backpacks, citing testing by the Institut für Gesundheit und Ergonomie.1

Footwear for older adults

The product range extends to older consumers, reinforcing the brand’s positioning as a comprehensive family footwear and foot-care provider rather than solely a children’s shoe company.12

The term “healthy shoes” is central to Dr Kong’s identity. It refers not to medical devices, but to footwear designed with considerations for fit, foot shape, support, flexibility and comfort. This positioning distinguishes the brand from mainstream fashion footwear. The retail proposition relies on the combination of foot assessment, product selection and footwear, rather than selling shoes independently of individual foot characteristics.12

It is important to distinguish the commercial use of terms like “healthy shoes” from medical treatment. Dr Kong operates primarily as a footwear and foot-care retailer; its products are not substitutes for diagnosis or treatment by healthcare professionals.

Dr Kong has progressed from a Hong Kong specialist retailer to an international brand. The Hong Kong Brand Development Council lists it as a Hong Kong Top Brand, with awards in 2006, 2008 and 2015, identifying major categories as healthy shoes, footwear accessories and spine-support school bags.4

In mainland China, the brand operates as 江博士健康鞋. Current corporate information states that Dr Kong has expanded to more than 1,300 stores across China and 15 overseas countries and regions. This figure reflects the current international footprint and supersedes earlier historical data.2

Beyond Hong Kong and mainland China, Dr Kong has entered overseas markets. In Singapore, the brand is marketed as a family-oriented footwear and foot-care company offering products for all ages, alongside insoles and school bags.1

The company also reports exporting products to markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.3

Innovation features prominently in the brand narrative. Dr Kong states that products are developed by designers collaborating with podiatry-related expertise, accounting for differences in foot characteristics among children, women and older adults.1

Key development concepts have included:

• Three-dimensional foot-care concepts for children
• Varying levels of arch support
• Differentiated heel and rear-foot designs
• Multiple footwear widths
• Flexible designs for early walkers
• Pressure-distribution technologies
• Ergonomically designed school bags
• Personalised or semi-personalised insole selection12

Dr Kong’s identity is defined by four primary characteristics:

1. Foot-health positioning: The fundamental proposition is that footwear should contribute to comfortable and appropriate foot support.
2. Family orientation: The product range covers the entire life cycle, from infants to older adults.1
3. Assessment-led retailing: The Check & Fit concept provides a service component distinguishing the brand from retailers selling primarily by size and appearance.4
4. Hong Kong heritage: Despite international expansion, the brand’s origins remain closely tied to Hong Kong, where it is recognised as a Top Brand.4

4

Internationally, the brand is known as Dr Kong or DR.KONG, while its Chinese-language identity is 江博士 or 江博士健康鞋. Hong Kong Brand Development Council records associate the Hong Kong operations with Dr. Kong Footcare Limited. The Chinese operation uses the name 江博士健康鞋 and describes itself as a family healthy-footwear brand.24

Dr Kong occupies a distinctive niche between mainstream footwear retail, comfort footwear and foot-care products. Competitive differentiation relies less on fashion branding and more on product functionality, fitting services and associations with foot and spinal health.

While historically associated strongly with children’s healthy footwear, the brand has broadened its positioning to encompass the whole family, expanding into adult footwear, insoles, foot-care products and ergonomic school bags.12

• Footwear
• Orthopedic footwear
• Foot orthotics
• Children’s footwear
• Ergonomic footwear
• Hong Kong brands

1. About Dr Kong – Dr Kong Official
2. 江博士健康鞋
3. 〖江博士/DR.KONG品牌故事〗江博士/DR.KONG品牌介绍_售后服务电话_什么值得买
4. Dr Kong Footcare Limited | Hong Kong Tourism Board