[Provided by CJ CheilJedang]
[Provided by CJ CheilJedang]

CJ CheilJedang announced Monday that it is launching three varieties of "Bibigo Gimbugak," a premium seaweed crisp made using traditional handmade methods, as it targets the premium health snack market.

The Bibigo Gimbugak lineup comes in three flavors: glutinous rice, spicy and shrimp. Each variety is made by coating seaweed in a paste of 100 percent domestically grown glutinous rice, drying it and then deep-frying it to achieve a rich, nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch. The company selected high-quality raw seaweed to preserve the ingredient's deep aroma and full-bodied texture.

CJ CheilJedang's seaweed business has posted average annual growth of around 30 percent over the past three years (2023–2025), recording domestic sales of 120 billion won ($77.7 million) last year alone. The company said the new product launch will help diversify its snack category portfolio and accelerate overall growth in the seaweed business. It also plans to expand overseas sales, starting with the United States, before the end of the year.

A company official said CJ CheilJedang aims to win over domestic consumers with Bibigo Gimbugak while spreading the appeal of traditional Korean snacks abroad, positioning the brand as a leading representative of "K-snacks."


andy@heraldcorp.com