Ottogi (Korean: 오뚜기) is one of South Korea’s largest and most recognisable food manufacturers. Established in 1969, the company pioneered the domestic curry market and has since expanded its portfolio to include instant noodles, sauces, seasonings, ready-to-eat meals, frozen foods, oils, and beverages. Its products are sold in more than 100 countries and are widely associated with Korean home cooking. In 2025, the company officially changed its English brand name from “Ottogi” to “OTOKI” to improve global pronunciation and branding, while the Korean name (오뚜기) remains unchanged.1

The name 오뚜기 (Ottogi) derives from 오뚝이 (ottuk-i), the traditional Korean roly-poly toy that always returns to an upright position after being knocked over. This symbolism reflects the company’s philosophy of resilience, reliability, perseverance, and a positive spirit. The company has utilised this image to represent a dependable food brand for Korean families.1

1969: Foundation

Ottogi was founded on 5 May 1969 by Ham Tai-ho. Its inaugural product was Ottogi Curry Powder, the first commercially produced curry product made in Korea. At the time, most curry products were imported, establishing Ottogi as a pioneer in local food manufacturing.

1970s: Expanding Everyday Foods

The company rapidly expanded into pantry staples during this decade. Major launches included tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, vinegar, cooking oils, and margarine. Several of these were among the first domestically produced versions in Korea.

1980s

Ottogi introduced significant innovations including retort pouch meals, a dedicated research and development centre, and food science laboratories. During this period, convenience foods became an increasingly important component of the company’s portfolio.

1990s

Key milestones in this decade included the company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Korea Exchange, the expansion of manufacturing facilities, entry into overseas markets, and continued product diversification.1

2000s–Present

Ottogi expanded internationally through the establishment of overseas subsidiaries, advanced food safety research, sustainability initiatives, global exports, and digital manufacturing improvements. In 2025, the company officially adopted OTOKI as its English corporate name while retaining its Korean identity.1

Ottogi’s corporate philosophy is “Contributing to better dietary life through better quality, better nutrition, and more advanced food.”1 Core values include:

• Quality first
• Food safety
• Nutrition
• Innovation
• Customer convenience
• Social responsibility

Ottogi manufactures thousands of food products across several key categories.

Instant Noodles

Popular brands include Jin Ramen, Sesame Ramen, Cheese Ramen, Yeul Ramen, and Snack Ramen.

Curry

Ottogi remains the market leader in curry within South Korea. Products include powder curry, block curry, ready-to-eat curry, and premium curry variants.

Sauces

The sauce range includes tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, chilli sauces, and pasta sauces.

Ready Meals

Ready-to-eat offerings include 3-Minute Curry, 3-Minute Black Bean Sauce, rice bowls, and soups.

Seasonings

Seasoning products comprise soup bases, stock cubes, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cooking mixes.

Frozen Foods

The frozen food category includes dumplings, pizza, fried rice, and snacks.

Cooking Ingredients

Basic cooking ingredients include flour, oils, syrups, vinegar, and starch.

Many Ottogi products are household staples in South Korea. Best-known items include:1

• Jin Ramen
• Ottogi Curry
• 3-Minute Curry
• Golden Mayonnaise
• Tomato Ketchup
• Sesame Oil
• Cheese Ramen
• Honey Mustard

Ottogi operates dedicated research institutes focused on food safety, nutrition, product development, packaging technology, quality control, and sustainable food production.1

Today, OTOKI exports products to over 100 countries across Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and Africa. The company also operates overseas subsidiaries and regional offices to support international distribution.1

Ottogi invests in food safety management, sustainable packaging, employee welfare, community support, educational foundations, and environmental initiatives. Research has linked the company’s strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) reputation with increased consumer preference in the Korean instant noodle market.2

Logo

The logo features a recognisable yellow and red colour scheme designed to convey warmth, appetite, and familiarity.

Mascot

The company’s visual identity is inspired by the roly-poly toy (오뚝이), reinforcing themes of resilience and optimism.

OTOKI is widely regarded as one of South Korea’s leading food companies and competes with major domestic brands in categories such as instant noodles, sauces, and processed foods. While it is especially famous internationally for Jin Ramen, its domestic portfolio spans thousands of grocery products found in Korean households.1

• Founded in 1969.
• Produced Korea’s first domestically made curry product.
• Among the first Korean companies to manufacture ketchup and mayonnaise locally.
• “Ottogi” refers to a roly-poly toy that always returns upright.
• Official English branding changed from Ottogi to OTOKI in 2025, while the Korean name (오뚜기) remains unchanged.1

1. Ottogi
2. 2021 Sustainability Report