Dongwha Pharmaceutical Expanded U.S. Digestive Beverage Sales
The manufacturer of the 129-year-old Whal Myung Su brand will enter the U.S. market via online and retail channels.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Consumer Goods
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Dongwha Pharmaceutical has announced a U.S. market entry for its Whal Myung Su digestive beverage, known in other regions as K.O.D (Korea Original Digestive). The brand plans to utilize Amazon and local supermarkets to reach domestic consumers by the end of 2026.
Why it matters
The move marks a strategic shift to expand the company's global touchpoints after launching in China, Taiwan, and Mongolia earlier this year. The company is leaning on K-pop marketing campaigns to establish the product as a category of K-Food finish drink in the U.S.
The 129-year-old brand is bringing its digestive beverage to the U.S. market following a launch in three other international markets during August 2026. The full scale of the planned initial retail footprint remains under development.
The players
Dongwha Pharmaceutical
A long-standing Korean manufacturer specializing in digestive health products and pharmaceutical goods.
CORTIS
A K-pop boy group employed by the company to spearhead marketing efforts for its digestive beverage product line.
Olive Young
A major South Korean health and beauty retailer serving as a key distribution partner for the company's product rollout.
The details
Dongwha Pharmaceutical will manage its U.S. market entry through a dual-channel strategy involving Amazon and local physical supermarkets. The expansion includes a targeted plan to place the K.O.D (Korea Original Digestive) beverage in Olive Young stores by the end of 2026. Marketing efforts will focus on positioning the drink as a digestive finish for meals, utilizing promotional campaigns featuring the boy group CORTIS to build local brand awareness.
Timeline
1897: The Whal Myung Su brand first originated in Seoul.
August 2026: The company launched K.O.D in China, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
October 13, 2026: Dongwha Pharmaceutical announced its official U.S. market target.
End of 2026: Planned release of K.O.D in the U.S. and entry into Olive Young stores.
Market Landscape
This move follows the documented industry trend of South Korean consumer goods firms using the global popularity of K-Food and K-Beauty to penetrate Western retail markets. It marks a significant effort to bridge traditional Korean digestive aids with modern U.S. consumer habits.
Retailers and e-commerce operators should monitor the brand's penetration in Olive Young and Amazon as a signal of potential consumer demand for imported functional beverages. Watch for how the company uses local supermarket partnerships to influence the competitive landscape for non-pharmaceutical digestive aids.
The takeaway
The company's reliance on CORTIS highlights the importance of leveraging existing cultural media vehicles to introduce traditional brands to new consumer bases. Operators should track the success of this K-pop-led marketing strategy to determine if it creates sustainable demand beyond niche product trials.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts in international retail, visit Consumer Goods.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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