Tanghulu CEO to testify before lawmakers on account of teen health

Industry

Published: 03 Oct. 2023, 16:55 Updated: 03 Oct. 2023, 17:22

Tanghulu CEO to testify before lawmakers on account of teen health

A tanghulu store, known for its Chinese candied caramelized fruits on a stick, in Songpa District, southern Seoul, sells a sugar-free tanghulu option, addressing concerns about excessive sugar consumption. [YONHAP]

The head of Korea's largest tanghulu franchise is set to testify in a National Assembly inquiry, addressing mounting concern about excessive sugar consumption among teenagers, linked to the Chinese sugar-encrusted fruit snack that has swept across Korea.

The Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly, in a decision made on Sept. 21, has summoned Kim So-hyang, the CEO of Dalkom Wang Ga Tanghulu, as a crucial witness for an impending inspection scheduled for Oct. 12.

The committee's focus during the inquiry will be the pressing issue of teenagers' excessive sugar consumption.

Born in 1980, Kim is the CEO of Dalkom Wang Ga Tanghulu, a company headquartered in Busan. Since opening its first branch in Ulsan in 2017, the number of stores has surged to 420, marking a tenfold increase compared to the previous year.

Tanghulu primarily appeals to teenagers thanks to its syrupy sweetness and fruity flavor, and exposure on mukbang videos trending on social media. Keyword searches for “tanghulu” on the food delivery app Baemin multiplied by 47.3 times from January to July, placing it in the third spot in the search rankings.

In line with its popularity, concerns have risen more than the potential health repercussions of the tanghulu trend, owing to its high sugar content. Tanghulu contains not only natural fruit sugars but also added sugars and syrup, meaning that the consumption of just one skewer can amount to half the recommended daily sugar intake of 50 grams.

Data from the National Health Insurance Service, submitted to Democratic Party Rep. Shin Hyun-young's office, reveals alarming obesity trends among students.

Last year, 951 middle school students aged between 13 and 15 sought medical treatment for obesity, marking a 212.8 percent increase compared to the 2018 figure of 304.

Similar increases were observed among elementary school students in both lower grades (ages 7-9), with a 73.3 percent increase, and upper grades (ages 10-12), with a 137.3 percent increase, as well as among high school students (ages 16-18), with a 125.3 percent increase.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a sharp increase in medical treatment for chronic illnesses among children and teenagers, likely due to reduced physical activity,” Shin said. “Moreover, the recent popularity of tanghulu and other sweet snacks necessitates special attention to health management.”

The tanghulu franchise emphasized that their product's sugar content is relatively low, with one tanghulu containing 35 to 45 calories, roughly equivalent to about half a teaspoon of sugar, used for the coating.

“Many consumers have been asking whether our products contain a lot of sugar — and to address this concern, we conducted a sugar calorie analysis for tanghulu,” Jung Chul-hun, co-CEO of Wang Ga Tanghulu, told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “From our perspective, it's one of the lower-calorie dessert options available.

“Despite the availability of sugar-free alternatives, we chose not to use them due to concerns about potential carcinogens,” Jung continued. “When it comes to desserts, it's the consumers who have the final say, not us. Our focus is on ensuring that food consumed by children is clean and fresh to the best of our ability.”

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]