Handok officially launched its new health functional food and food subsidiary, ‘Handok Healthcare,’ on January 12. Handok Healthcare is a newly established entity that integrates Handok’s Consumer Healthcare Division and Theravalues, a Japanese functional ingredient company acquired by Handok in 2016. Operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Handok, the launch of Handok Healthcare is part of Handok’s value-up strategy, enabling vertical integration from raw materials to product development and sales to enhance profitability.

Handok Healthcare will be jointly led by Donghan Kim, Executive Director of Handok’s Corporate Planning Office, and Sohyun Kwon, CEO of Theravalues. Kim will oversee the health functional food and food business, while Kwon will manage global ingredient operations and R&D. Combining the expertise and experience of both leaders is expected to maximize synergy.

Handok Healthcare plans to leverage Theracurmin—a premium curcumin ingredient with enhanced bioavailability—as its core competitive strength. By capitalizing on the growing wellness trend and increasing consumer preference for natural ingredients, the company aims to expand its presence in both domestic and global health functional food markets. In addition to Theracurmin,

Handok Healthcare owns brands such as ‘NatureSet’ and the hangover relief product ‘ReadyQ.’ Theracurmin, developed by Theravalues, is a premium functional ingredient that significantly improves absorption compared to standard curcumin. Backed by scientifically proven efficacy, Theracurmin has gained strong market attention. Distribution channels are expanding across major offline retailers such as E-Mart Traders, as well as domestic and international online platforms, including Amazon and Korean direct-purchase sites, to increase global accessibility.

Donghan Kim, CEO of Handok Healthcare, stated: “By combining theracurmin—a differentiated ingredient—with the rigorous quality standards and research expertise of a pharmaceutical company, we will establish clear leadership in the curcumin market. Despite intense competition in the health food sector, we will secure profitability through vertical integration centered on Theracurmin and drive solid growth in both domestic and global markets.”

Meanwhile, the curcumin market continues to show remarkable growth globally. In the U.S., curcumin has been ranked as the No. 1 health supplement chosen by consumers and has recorded a stable annual growth rate of 5% over the past three years. In Korea, rising interest in health management and natural ingredients is fueling rapid growth in curcumin-based products.