Kyochon F&B signs MOU with Arai Shoji, targets first Tokyo store in first half of 2027
Version 2: A further report adds that Kyochon Chicken already runs 78 overseas stores across six markets, a detail not present in the earlier coverage.
In short
Kyochon F&B, which operates Kyochon Chicken, said it signed a strategic MOU with Japanese company Arai Shoji to enter the Japanese market, aiming to open its first Japanese store in Tokyo in the first half of next year. The agreement was signed on Sept 29 and covers quality control, marketing and operations training, with stores to run under a multi-unit franchise model. Yonhap reported separately that Kyochon is also expanding in China, and Hankook Ilbo said the chain already runs 78 overseas stores in six markets.
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Kyochon F&B, the company behind Kyochon Chicken, said on Oct 6 that it has signed a strategic MOU with Japanese company Arai Shoji to enter the Japanese market, and aims to open its first Japanese store in Tokyo in the first half of next year. Dong-A Ilbo put the target as the first half of 2027. The plan was reported by Asia Economy, Yonhap, Seoul Shinmun, Dong-A Ilbo, Newsis and Hankook Ilbo within about three hours. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Asia Economy and Hankook Ilbo reported that the two companies signed the agreement on Sept 29 at a ceremony at Kyochon F&B's Pangyo office in Seongnam, attended by Kyochon F&B CEO Song Jong-hwa and Arai Shoji president Arai Rojō. Kyochon said the partnership would be a foothold for entering the Japanese market, adding that it would present Kyochon Chicken's flavour and quality locally and develop Japan into a new growth axis for its global business. [ 1 , 6 ]
Under the agreement, the companies will build a cooperation system covering quality control, marketing and operations training, and the local outlets will use a multi-unit franchise model, which grants the right to open multiple stores in a contract area. The company said this approach allows stable store expansion. After the Tokyo opening, Kyochon plans to extend step by step into surrounding cities. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Arai Shoji was founded in 1920 and grew through auction and food distribution businesses. It acquired Ongane Holdings, a Korean food importer and distributor, in 2020, and in 2024 diversified into dining by introducing a Belgian waffle specialty store. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that Kyochon Chicken has run 78 overseas stores in six markets — China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States and Dubai. Yonhap reported that Kyochon F&B is also expanding in China: it opened its first store in Shenzhen in February last year and recently opened the Kyochon Chicken China Wuxi branch at a shopping mall near Taihu in Jiangsu Province's Wuxi. [ 2 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The agreement marks the start of a formal push by a large Korean fried-chicken franchiser into Japan, which the company described as a new growth axis for its global business. For readers outside Korea it is a concrete example of Korean food brands and their distributors expanding across borders. The documents give no sales targets or investment figures, so the commercial scale of the plan is not yet known.
Key facts
- Kyochon F&B, the operator of Kyochon Chicken, said it signed a strategic MOU with Japanese company Arai Shoji to enter the Japanese market. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The company aims to open its first Japanese store in Tokyo in the first half of next year; Dong-A Ilbo specified this as the first half of 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Asia Economy and Hankook Ilbo reported the agreement was signed on Sept 29 at Kyochon F&B's Pangyo office in Seongnam, with CEO Song Jong-hwa and Arai Shoji president Arai Rojō attending. [ 1 , 6 ]
- The companies will cooperate on quality control, marketing and operations training, and will use a multi-unit franchise model that grants the right to open multiple stores in a contract area. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Arai Shoji was founded in 1920 and grew in auction and food distribution; it acquired Korean food importer and distributor Ongane Holdings in 2020 and launched a Belgian waffle specialty store in 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Kyochon Chicken has run 78 overseas stores in six markets — China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States and Dubai, according to Hankook Ilbo. [ 6 ]
- Yonhap reported Kyochon opened its first Chinese store in Shenzhen in February last year and recently opened a branch in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kyochon F&B signed an MOU with Arai Shoji for the Japanese market. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The company targets a first Japanese store in Tokyo in the first half of next year, which Dong-A Ilbo specified as the first half of 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Japanese rollout will use a multi-unit franchise model, with expansion from Tokyo to surrounding cities. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The cooperation covers quality control, marketing and operations training. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Arai Shoji was founded in 1920, works in auction and food distribution, acquired Ongane Holdings in 2020 and moved into dining with a Belgian waffle store in 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- The exact opening date of the Tokyo store within the first half of next year The documents describe the timing only as a target, not a fixed date.
- How many stores Kyochon plans in Japan and how much it will invest Asia Economy, Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo describe expansion to surrounding cities but give no store count or investment figures.
- Details beyond the headline from Newsis Newsis published a headline about the Japan entry, but the article text shown under it concerned an unrelated subject, so no additional detail could be taken from that outlet.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy reports that Kyochon F&B signed an MOU with Arai Shoji on Sept 29 and aims to open a first Japanese store in Tokyo in the first half of next year. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the same agreement and adds Kyochon's recent opening in Wuxi, China. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes a headline report on the planned Japan entry. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the target as the first half of 2027. [ 4 ]
- Newsis reports the plan under a headline about taking a first step in Tokyo. [ 5 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the plan and Kyochon's 78 overseas stores in six markets. [ 6 ]