Insan

What Insan does

Insan (인산가) is a South Korean health food manufacturer and retailer founded in 1986/1987 by Kim Il-hoon, currently led by Chairman Kim Yun-se. The company specializes in the production of bamboo salt (죽염) and a portfolio of bamboo-salt-applied traditional Korean foods including fermented sauces (soy sauce, doenjang, gochujang), health extracts (sulfur duck extract, freshwater snail extract, ginger licorice extract), pill supplements, and lifestyle goods such as natural soaps and ceramic containers. Insan serves health-conscious Korean consumers, premium gift purchasers, traditional cuisine enthusiasts, wellness tourism visitors, and Halal-certified international consumers in Malaysia, with secondary export reach into the United States and Taiwan.

The company's core proprietary technology is the 9-step bamboo salt manufacturing process (9회 죽염 제조공정): sea salt aged for three years is packed into Korean bamboo tubes sealed with yellow clay, roasted eight times over pine wood fires, then fused at 1,700°C+ in a ninth molten step, yielding a mineral-complex salt with documented high reducing/anti-oxidant properties. This process is supported by 25+ registered Korean and Japanese patents covering bamboo salt variants, fermented food compositions, soap formulations, and functional food applications including vascular calcification prevention and inflammatory bowel disease management. Insan operates HACCP-certified, ISO 9001/14001-certified manufacturing facilities in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Insan operates a multi-channel sales-led go-to-market combining 17 direct-owned retail stores and 106+ agent/reseller stores across all Korean provinces, the insanlife.com e-commerce platform, Amazon US presence under the k-lavasalt brand, and dedicated distributors in Taiwan and the US. Revenue mechanics span one-time product sales across categories, an Insan Healing Club membership tier with enhanced mileage rewards, and service-based wellness programs (healing camps, Jirisan hiking, loess room stays) at the company's Jirisan Lodge and Insan Training Institute. The company has been listed on KOSDAQ (ticker 277410) since September 2018.

Name

Insan

Legal name

(주)인산가

Website

https://insanga.co.kr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Insan (인산가) is a South Korean health food company founded in 1986 that manufactures 9-step bamboo salt and traditional fermented foods, serving health-conscious Korean consumers via 17 direct stores, 106+ agent retailers, e-commerce, and exports to the USA, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traditional Korean Health Foods

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033)

akta.pro primary industry

Fermented & Specialty Condiments Manufacturing (Kimchi Base, Gochujang, Miso-Based Sauces) (AFAKADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vitamins & Minerals (Single Nutrients) (CRADAGAB), Rice Cakes & Grain Snack Manufacturing (AFAKAIAK)

Keywords

• Bamboo salt products
• Korean health foods
• Traditional fermented sauces
• Herbal supplements
• Wellness retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamyang

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales — Online E-Commerce (insanlife.com): Insan operates its own e-commerce platform (insanlife.com) where customers purchase bamboo salt products, fermented foods, health supplements, and lifestyle goods directly. The platform supports member accounts, mileage/rewards points, and various payment methods including credit card, account transfer, and virtual account.
2. Direct Product Sales — Physical Retail Stores: Insan operates 17 direct-owned retail stores across South Korea and a network of over 100 agent/reseller stores. Products are sold at retail prices directly to end consumers at physical storefronts.
3. International Export Sales: Insan exports bamboo salt and health products to international markets including the United States (with exports dating to 2010) and Taiwan. Halal-certified products are exported to Malaysia. Export sales represent a distinct revenue stream for overseas markets.
4. Membership/Subscription (Insan Healing Club): Insan operates a tiered membership program including 'Insan Healing Club' (일산힐링클럽) members who earn higher mileage rewards (0.3% vs 0.1% for regular members). The membership program drives repeat purchase behavior.
5. Healing/Workshop Programs (힐링캠프스토리): Insan offers wellness programs including healing camps, 1-night 2-day experiences, Jirisan hiking programs, and health tours, providing a service-based revenue stream complementing product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Insan manufactures and sells 9-step bamboo salt (죽염) and a range of bamboo salt-based application foods, traditional Korean fermented sauces (soy sauce, doenjang, gochujang), health extracts and concentrates (sulfur duck extract, snail extract, ginger-licorice extract), pill supplements, and ancillary wellness and lifestyle products (ceramic containers, soap, moxa, kimchi, rice noodles). The company operates direct retail stores, an agent/reseller network, an e-commerce platform (insanlife.com), and exports to the US, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Product overview

Insan (인산가) is a 120-year-old Korean health food company specializing in bamboo salt (죽염) and traditional health products. The product portfolio centers around their signature 9-times roasted bamboo salt (9회죽염), with offerings spanning bamboo salt products in various forms (solid, powder, liquid), traditional fermented sauces and pastes (bamboo salt soy sauce, doenjang, gochujang), health extracts and concentrates (sulfur duck extract, freshwater snail extract, ginger licorice extract), pills and capsules (safflower pills, garlic pills, bokhaejeong pills), health foods (safflower seeds, radish syrup, roasted garlic, bamboo salt coffee), traditional foods (kimchi, dried persimmon, dried fish), daily necessities (ceramic containers, sleep pillows, mugwort moxa, skincare), and published books on Insan Medicine. The company operates e-commerce platforms including insanlife.com for direct sales, with 17 direct stores and 106 agent stores across South Korea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 인산죽염: Premium bamboo salt products including 9-time roasted bamboo salt, self-roasted bamboo salt, alkaline bamboo salt, and water bamboo salt
• 인산장류
• 인산진액류
• 인산환류
• 월간인산의학

Products and services

• Insan Bamboo Salt (인산죽염) — 9-Step, Black, Minebo, Alkaline, and 3-Times variants Premium bamboo salt products in multiple variants (9-times, black, Minebo, alkaline, 3-times daily), produced by roasting sea salt inside Korean bamboo tubes sealed with yellow clay over pine wood fires. Sold directly to health-conscious Korean consumers through retail stores, agents, and insanlife.com.
• Insan Fermented Sauces (인산장류) — Bamboo Salt Soy Sauce, Bamboo Salt Doenjang, Bamboo Salt Gochujang, Bokhaejeong Traditional Korean fermented condiments (ganjang/soy sauce, doenjang/soybean paste, gochujang/red pepper paste) made with Insan's bamboo salt and proprietary fermentation recipes. Sold to home cooks and culinary enthusiasts at direct stores and online.
• Insan Health Extracts (인산진액류) — Sulfur Duck Extract, Freshwater Snail Extract, Ginger Licorice Extract, Dried Pollock Extract Concentrated health extracts targeting immune support, chronic disease management, and overall wellness. Sold as bottled liquid concentrates to health-conscious consumers at direct stores, agent stores, and insanlife.com.
• Insan Pills (인산환류) — Safflower Seed Pills, Bamboo Garlic Pills, Cheonsam Samson Dan, Empress Secret Method Pills Health supplement pills and capsules, including safflower seed pills, bamboo garlic pills, anti-aging formulations (Cheonsam Samson Dan, Empress Secret Method), and herbal combinations. Marketed to consumers seeking traditional Korean medicine-style daily supplementation.
• Insan Traditional Foods — Bamboo Salt Kimchi, Bamboo Salt Rice Noodles, Bamboo Salt Coffee, Red Ginseng Concentrate Plus, Radish Syrup, Roasted Garlic, Bamboo Salt Jujube Ready-to-consume traditional Korean foods and snacks incorporating Insan's bamboo salt, including kimchi, rice noodles, coffee, ginseng concentrate, radish syrup, roasted garlic, and dried persimmon. Sold at direct stores, agent stores, and online.
• Insan Lifestyle Goods — Bamboo Salt Ceramic Containers, Insan Sleep Pillow, Bio-J Soap, Mugwort Moxa, Hot/Cold Pack, Chef's Seasoning, Safflower Seeds Lifestyle and household products incorporating bamboo salt and traditional ingredients, including far-infrared ceramic cookware, antibacterial pillows, natural soap, moxa, therapy packs, seasoning blends, and roasted safflower seeds.
• Insan Healing Programs (인산힐링캠프) — Wellness Retreats, Jirisan Hiking, 1-Night 2-Day Healing Camps, Health Tours, Group Programs Service-based wellness retreat experiences combining traditional Korean health philosophy with nature immersion at Insan's Jirisan Lodge and Training Institute facilities. Includes healing camps, group programs, and educational wellness tours. Booked by individual consumers and groups seeking holistic wellness experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bamboo salt demonstrates the highest reducing (anti-oxidant) power compared to refined salt and sea salt in oxidation experiments, with reducing power increasing proportionally with the number of roasting cycles (9-cycle bamboo salt shows the strongest effect)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CJ Korea Express (CJ 대한통운)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCJ Korea Express handles product logistics and delivery for Insan's online and offline sales, providing nationwide shipping services for Insan products to end consumers.
• Korea Post (우체국)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorea Post provides alternative logistics and shipping services for Insan's product distribution, including international EMS shipping for overseas customers.
• HumorzOn (주)휴머스온minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHumorzOn provides SMS text messaging and email sending services to Insan for customer communication, order notifications, and marketing purposes.
• World PID (월드피에이디)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld PID handles periodic publication (정기 간행물) distribution services for Insan's monthly Insan Medical Journal and other publications.
• Incheon Electronic Land Professional Basketball Team (인천전자랜드 프로농구단)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsan signed an official sponsorship contract with the Incheon Electronic Land professional basketball team in 2009, as part of brand marketing and community engagement activities.
• Gwangju National University of Traditional Korean Medicine (광주대학교 대체의학과)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsan CEO Kim Yun-se was appointed as an industry cooperation professor at Gwangju University's Department of Alternative Medicine in 2012, supporting academic collaboration and research on traditional Korean health practices.
• Jinju International University (진주국제대학교)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsan entered an industry-academia cooperation agreement with Jinju International University's Food Business Division in 2005, supporting research collaboration in food science and traditional Korean food development.
• Gyeongnam Techno Park (경남테크노 파크)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsan participates in regional industry joint technology development projects selected by Gyeongnam Techno Park (knowledge economy ministry), including 'Development of High-Efficiency Ja-Juksum (self-made bamboo salt) Production Process and Functional Food Development' (2006).
• Bio 21 Center (바이오 21센터)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsan collaborates with the Bio 21 Center on regional industry technology development projects, including biotechnology venture plaza establishment (2008) and regional industry manpower training programs.
• Insan Biotech Co., Ltd. (인산바이오텍(주))minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsan Biotech was established in 2008 as a specialized company for bamboo salt and fermented product manufacturing, and merged with Insan in 2009, consolidating production expertise into the Insan group.
• Harvard Medical School — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Harvard/Dana-Farber)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn July 1995, Harvard Medical School's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute published a research report on Insan bamboo salt, representing early international scientific validation of the product's properties.
• China Medical Research Institute (중국 중의研究院)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn May 1993, China's China Medical Research Institute published a research report on Insan bamboo salt, providing international academic recognition.
• DLAMOND SHINE Co., Ltd. (대만 광총企業有限公司)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaiwan-based DLAMOND SHINE (광총企業有限公司) served as Insan's distributor in Taiwan, handling bamboo salt exports to the Taiwanese market starting from 2009 (US$22,868 export value that year).
• Seoul Shk Poom Inc. (USA) (서울 SHK POOM)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based Seoul SHK POOM Inc. served as Insan's distributor in the American market, handling bamboo salt exports to the United States.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ottogi: Ottogi is a Korean food manufacturer producing sauces, noodles, and seasoning mixes overlapping directly with Insan's range of fermented condiments and bamboo-salt-flavored rice noodles.
• IL HWA: IL HWA is a Korean traditional herbal-medicine and health-food brand with extracts, pills, and tonics in the same domestic functional-food channel where Insan distributes its sulfur duck extract and health pills.
• Sempio Foods: Sempio is one of Korea's largest traditional soy sauce and fermented condiment makers, also producing doenjang, gochujang, and a broad sauce portfolio — directly overlapping Insan's Insanbokryu/Insanjang line of bamboo-salt fermented sauces.
• Kwangdong Pharmaceutical: Kwangdong is a Korean pharmaceutical firm with a sizeable consumer-health and traditional-medicine portfolio, including functional beverages and health supplements — directly comparable to Insan's supplements and concentrated extracts line.
• Daesang Corporation: Daesang is a leading Korean food company with a deep portfolio of fermented sauces (doenjang, ganjang, gochujang) and processed foods, competing in the same Korean culinary staples category where Insan sells its bamboo-salt soy sauce, doenjang, and gochujang.
• Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC): KGC is the state-affiliated Korean red ginseng and functional-foods maker with a similar extract/pill/functional-foods model and a focus on traditional Korean health products, making it a parallel player in Korea's traditional health-food category.

Broad incumbents

• CJ CheilJedang: CJ CheilJedang is the largest Korean food and bio manufacturer with global bibigo brand and broad soy sauce/sauce lines; it competes with Insan across condiments and packaged Korean foods but at much greater scale and as part of a diversified conglomerate.
• Nongshim: Nongshim is a major Korean food conglomerate with seasonings, noodles, and processed foods; it competes broadly with Insan's rice noodles and kimchi/condiment lines through national retail and foodservice distribution.
• Dong-A Pharmaceutical (Dong-A Socio Holdings): Dong-A Pharmaceutical is a Korean OTC drug and functional health-food maker (e.g., Bacchus, Euzym) with a similar domestic health-and-wellness positioning, providing a broad-incumbent comparable in the Korean consumer-health space where Insan sells its health concentrates and supplements.
• AmorePacific: AmorePacific is Korea's largest natural-ingredient cosmetics and personal-care company; its natural-soap and botanical-skincare lines overlap with Insan's patented bamboo-salt soap range, though it operates at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeek24NEBLkcvDUN_0NXJGA
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/insanlife

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Insan