Yeon Jin-guk, an intern researcher at the Funding Institute. Filled with determination and passion, Yeon Jin-guk has finally been assigned his first task.
“Hey, intern researcher, would you like to write a funding research log?”
Yeon Jin-guk, who got scolded on his first day of work for confusing "cloud" with "crowd" (
How on earth did you end up becoming a research intern?Will he actually be able to carry out the mission successfully?Here begins Yeon Jin-guk’s Funding Exploration Journal.
A Culinary Tour of Local Eateries from the Comfort of Your Own Home with RMR
While writing my previous research log,While writing my previous research log, I discovered that offline stores expanding into the online market is a growing trend. The meal kit market has a brighter outlook than I had anticipated. According to the global research firm Euromonitor, this market is projected to grow more than threefold, from 101.7 billion won in 2019 to 376.6 billion won this year.The estimated market size for 2025 is a whopping 526 billion won.
As the meal kit trend takes hold, RMR (Restaurant Meal Replacement)—which allows people to easily prepare and enjoy meals from famous restaurants at home—continues to gain popularity. As a result, you can’t help but hear people exclaim, “Oh, look! This restaurant has released a meal kit!” everywhere you go—from convenience stores and supermarkets to online retailers.
From business owners to the food distribution industry and consumers alike, meal kits have become a household name. Isn’t it because they allow everyone to enjoy and have food from famous restaurants across the country delivered right to their doorstep with just a single click?
With meal kits, you can go on a culinary tour of the country right from the comfort of your own home. It’s perfect for office workers like me who are short on both time and energy! You can travel through the flavors—from Jeju Island yesterday, to Gangwon Province today, and all the way to Jeolla Province tomorrow.
RMR starts with funding
Since many restaurant owners are new to the world of crowdfunding, there are various support programs designed specifically for them. The same goes for meal kit crowdfunding! Programs have been set up for restaurant owners who are veterans in the offline world but complete beginners online. After all, it’s difficult for local eateries to handle R&D, production facilities, and menu commercialization all on their own.
Wadiz, in partnership with Hyundai Green Food, is launching a nationwide project to support the growth of local restaurants, titled ‘Everyone’s Favorite Restaurants.’ Through this program, many local signature dishes have been transformed into convenient meals that anyone can easily enjoy. Furthermore, since the program provides access to Hyundai’s online and offline distribution channels, it’s an excellent opportunity for restaurant owners.
Wadiz X Hyundai Green Food
So, shall we kick off our nationwide food tour with a proper crowdfunding campaign?
A Tour of the Nation's Best Restaurants 1. Seoul: The Legend of Tteokbokki
First up is Seoul. A life dedicated to spicy flavors Hyunseon’s Tteokbokki.
Starting from a small food cart in 2007, they took Yongsan by storm with their spicy flavor. They’re the protagonists of a success story that even led to a store opening in the Galleria Luxury Mall. True to their reputation, they received offers from many large corporations and distributors. Yet, Hyunseon’s Tteokbokki ultimately chose none other than ‘crowdfunding’.
After a year of distribution testing, they concluded that it was difficult to replicate the same taste as in their physical stores when producing in bulk. So, they returned to their physical store and opted for a handmade approach, where they boil, age, and package the products themselves. Given that Hyunseon’s is already as famous as the Great Wall of China, what if they had launched online sales right away? My reasonable suspicion is that the owner might have collapsed from overwork due to the flood of orders.
So! Hyunseon’s family opted for a crowdfunding campaign that allowed them to set a sales period and accommodate relatively slow shipping. Anyway, for working professionals like me who don’t have the luxury of waiting, crowdfunding is a total lifesaver.
Hyunseon's Tteokbokki Meal Kit Contents
Exploring the Best Restaurants Across the Country, Part 2: Jeju’s Delicious Dakgangjeong
Next, let’s take a flight there. There’s a small dakgangjeong shop on an old street across from Seomun Market in Jeju. A couple who had been running a chicken restaurant for 10 years created this shop themselves after searching for a place that truly captured the essence of Jeju.
“We hope to be remembered for a long time not just as a chicken snack, but as Jeju Hallasan Chicken, a dish that showcases and captures the essence of Jeju.”
Halla Dakgangjeong, sold at the Jeju store. It brings to mind Mount Halla covered in a light dusting of snow.
The owners’ dream, which began with a crowdfunding campaign in Jeju, has now reached the mainland—thanks to Hyundai Green Food. Although there were many ups and downs as this was their first time producing meal kits, the campaign was a success thanks to the strong support of Hyundai Green Food and the owners’ passion for spreading the taste of Jeju through their dakgangjeong. To this day, Halladakgangjeong Hyundai Greeting Mall.
Exploring the Best Restaurants Across the Country, Part 3: Trendy Flavors of Gyeongju
Next, let’s head to the mainland. Ryomi is a popular local restaurant with multiple locations across Gyeongsang Province, starting in Gyeongju. It’s a hot spot with a whopping 8,069 visitor reviews on Naver (as of November 29, 2022)!
Their signature dish, Perilla Leaf Pesto Goma Sobahas been transformed into a meal kit as part of the “Everyone’s Favorite Restaurant” project.
We went through dozens of sampling rounds to capture the true essence of Ryomi's flavor
The key to soba lies in its fresh, springy noodles that feel as though they were just made, but since they had to be distributed frozen, capturing the flavor and texture of these noodles was a major challenge. It was Hyundai Green Food, a veteran in the food distribution industry, that provided Ryomi with significant assistance during this time. Thanks to them, the taste of Gyeongju Ryomi could reach dining tables across the country. Ryomi’s Goma Soba also Hyundai Greeting Mall.
Ryomi's Meal Kit Contents
Nationwide Restaurant Tour 4: A Restaurant Featured on TV—The Master’s Flavors of Gangwon Province
Whether you're a young, trendy local business owner or a seasoned veteran running a long-established shop, anyone can try their hand at meal kit crowdfunding. This time, we're in Chuncheon, home to a master chef.
Simgadang started as an unassuming snack stand at the five-day market in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. As word spread, it became a legend, and thanks to that, they opened a small shop in Chuncheon.
The shop owner at the Hwacheon 5-Day Market
After appearing on TV as a master of tteokbokki and fried foods, he became famous nationwide. As more and more customers began traveling from far away, inquiries about delivery never stopped. Every time this happened, he felt increasingly apologetic, and this the reason I started. So that those who used to make the long, difficult journey wouldn’t have to travel so far anymore.
So that people can always enjoy the taste of Simgadang Tteokbokki from Chuncheon—whether in Namhae’s Land’s End Village or on Jeju Island—the owner has beenWadiz Storefor a while.
A photo taken after cooking the meal exactly as it comes in the meal kit. Please note that this is not a staged photo!
Enjoy local flavors anytime, anywhere, thanks to crowdfunding
Seoul, Jeju, Gyeongju, Chuncheon. In addition to these Restaurants big and small across the country are using crowdfunding to deliver local flavors anywhere, anytime. If you spot a great restaurant while watching TV or scrolling through social media, try searching for it on the mint-colored app before heading out. You might just find a funding campaign running!
That wraps up Day 10 of my crowdfunding journal. Today’s lunch features the flavors of Jeju, brought over from across the sea thanks to the funding.
View other logs 👀
Episode 1: “My First Assignment Has Been Assigned”
Episode 2: “Funding: One Name, Several Meanings”
Episode 3: “One Heartfelt Story Is Worth More Than Ten Features”
Episode 4: “We Are Gen Z, Launching Crowdfunding Campaigns”
Episode 5: “Is There Such a Crowdfunding Campaign? People Deeply Dedicated to a Single Cause”
Episode 6: “Is There Such a Crowdfunding Campaign? Everyone’s Own Way of Thinking About the Environment”
Episode 7: “Let’s Go on a Special Trip Through Crowdfunding”
Episode 8: “Workation: I’m Going on One Through Crowdfunding!”
Episode 9: “Trendy Restaurants from Social Media, Now on Crowdfunding!”
Episode 11: “Crowdfunding: A Dash of Excitement for Your Best Life”
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