Jeju Samdasoo producer turns to China for growth

(JPDC)

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corp. (JPDC), the producer of South Korea’s top-selling bottled water brand Jeju Samdasoo, is stepping up efforts to expand in China as it seeks new growth beyond a slowing domestic market.

The company announced on Sunday that it signed an export agreement with GS Global Corp. and plans to launch Jeju Samdasoo on China’s online platform JD.com in July.

Jeju Samdasoo selected JD.com as its first major local distribution channel because of the platform’s reputation for strict quality control, fast delivery systems, strong consumer trust, and advantages building brand recognition, the company said.

Until now, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development had mainly exported Jeju Samdasoo to Korean communities within China. This marks the first time the company will directly target local Chinese consumers through online sales channels.

Initial shipment volumes are currently under discussion.

The latest move reflects an effort to tap into the rising demand for Korean food and beauty products among Chinese consumers.

According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, China’s bottled water market has been projected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 10.8 percent from 2019. With bottled water demand continuing in China, analysts said Jeju Samdasoo’s expansion into the country could serve as a gateway for broader growth across Asia.

Currently, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development exports around 10,000 tons of Jeju Samdasoo annually to 17 countries, mainly in Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines. Success in China could accelerate the company’s goal of reaching total exports of 100,000 tons by 2035.

In particular, interest is focused on whether the China expansion can help reverse declining performance.

Jeju Samdasoo’s sales fell 11.7 percent from 335 billion won ($229.2 million) in 2024 to 295.5 billion won in 2025, as inflation and weakened consumer spending reduced domestic sales volume.

The corporation plans to gradually expand its online sales base through JD.com. It will first operate a dedicated brand store on the platform while also carrying out marketing and cultural exchange activities promoting Jeju Island through Jeju Samdasoo to increase engagement with local consumers.

It also plans to strengthen supply competitiveness by improving logistics efficiency through the direct shipping route between Jeju and Qingdao, which opened in October last year.