SC Korea is the No. 1 domestic manufacturer of polyethylene (PE) household goods. The company has supplied vinyl bags and vinyl gloves, produced with 100% locally sourced materials, to major domestic and international retailers through OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing). Recently, after completing facility investments worth several tens of billions of won, the company has embarked on a new phase of growth by promoting its own household goods brand.

 

CEO Shin Eon-gi said in an interview with the Korea Economic Daily on the 21st, “We launched our own household goods brand ‘EasyN’ last year,” adding, “We aim to rapidly expand our market share online and increase sales from 60 billion won last year (including affiliates) to more than 100 billion won within the next three years.”

 

SC Korea is recognized as the pioneer that introduced vinyl zipper bags to the Korean market. In its early days, the company grew by supplying OEM products such as zipper medicine pouches for Seoul National University Hospital and sanitary bags for major express bus companies. Later, it expanded its client base to global household brands like 3M and Lock&Lock. Today, more than 90% of zipper bags and vinyl gloves sold domestically are produced by SC Korea, solidifying its strong foundation in the PE household goods sector.
 

<Household goods under SC Korea’s “EZN” brand, launched last year>

 

Despite having remained resilient through the Asian financial crisis and the Lehman Brothers collapse, SC Korea faced a crossroads as the growth of offline retail channels such as large discount stores began to stagnate. Determined to replicate its offline success in the online arena, the company has focused on expanding its market share through Coupang, Korea’s largest e-commerce platform.

 

EasyN zipper bags and latex gloves launched on Coupang have received an overwhelming consumer response, with 99% of buyers giving them a perfect five-star rating. CEO Shin said, “Monthly sales on Coupang jumped from 10 million won to 200 million won in just one year,” adding, “Thanks to the rapid growth of our online performance, the company is on track to achieve record-high annual sales this year.”
 

<The former Pantech factory in Gimpo acquired by SC Korea>

 

In 2020, the company purchased a Gimpo factory previously owned by telecommunications equipment maker Pantech, with a total floor area of about 40,000㎡ (approximately 12,000 pyeong). Since then, it has invested more than 10 billion won in remodeling and expansion. By consolidating production facilities from its previously scattered four factories into this site, the company has transformed it into a core production and logistics hub, where about 300 employees, including those from partner companies located in the complex, now work. Once the relocation to the new Gimpo plant is completed by the end of the year, the company expects production capacity to more than double from the current 1,500 tons per month.

 

More recently, the company has moved toward the commercialization of “graphene zipper bags,” which apply graphene—often called the “material of dreams”—to enhance food preservation. These zipper bags, produced without any chemical additives, are recognized as eco-friendly products that improve antibacterial properties and the physical functionality of biodegradable materials. Even before full-scale production began, overseas buyers from the United States and Europe have placed orders, reflecting strong industry interest.

 

CEO Shin founded the company while working as an office employee at Korean Air, anticipating rising demand in the packaging industry alongside economic growth. His philosophy has always been uncompromising on quality—so much so that in the late 1980s, he discarded 50 million won worth of zipper bags due to quality issues. He has since dedicated himself to securing technology, holding more than ten patents related to vinyl bags, including ultrasonic processing and double zipper technology.

 

He emphasized, “Homemakers are extremely sensitive to quality. If vinyl gloves tear easily, customer reviews turn negative and repurchases do not happen. Our vinyl gloves are of such high quality that even when rubbed against a cement floor while being worn, they will not tear.”

 

By Kyungjin Min (Reporter) – [email protected]

Source: Nate News (https://news.nate.com)

 

Original Article Link : https://news.nate.com/view/20221023n09058