What Dongbang Agro does

Dongbang Agro (동방아그로) is a South Korean crop protection chemical manufacturer that develops, produces, and sells herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides targeting rice paddies, orchards, and managed turf (golf courses, sports fields). Founded in 1971 as Dongbang Nongyak Company and publicly listed on KRX (ticker 007590) since 1977, the company has 40+ years of continuous operation and holds ISO 14001 and ISO 9002 certifications. Its core products are proprietary agrochemical formulations — including granular 입제, liquid 유제, water-dispersible granule 유현탁제, and direct-spray tablet 직접살포정제 formats — developed at an in-house technology research center completed in 2017 in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do. Recent flagship products include 동시스타 (Dongsistal) herbicide granules, 올컷 (Allcut) insecticide, 스리백 (Three Back) herbicide tablets, and 골든골 (Golden Goal) herbicide emulsifiable concentrate, all classified as low-to-moderate toxicity (Grade III/IV).

The company sells directly to Korean farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and turf managers through a nationwide network of regional branch offices supported by a dedicated Buyer's Center (지점 연결), field sales representatives, online consultation, and a cyber-reporting channel. Marketing channels include a content-rich product portal (crop-based search, residual standard lookup, mechanism-of-action index), a YouTube channel for product demonstrations and farmer education, and government-recognized award credentials. Its customer-facing knowledge resources cover pesticide application methods, export agricultural product safety standards, and eco-friendly agricultural materials. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales at quote-based pricing, with no subscription, licensing, or platform monetization. Operations are domestic to South Korea, with historical Japanese equity partnerships dating from 1984 (Ju-O Sanga and Hokko Chemical). The company is led by Chairman Yeom Byeong-man, who took office on December 26, 2024, and has 101-250 employees with headquarters in Seoul (Gwanak-gu), a manufacturing plant in Buyeo, and a welfare center in Danyang.

Name

Dongbang Agro

Legal name

(주)동방아그로

Website

https://dongbangagro.co.kr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dongbang Agro (동방아그로) is a South Korean KRX-listed manufacturer of proprietary herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides for rice paddies, orchards, and turf, selling through a nationwide branch network to Korean farmers and agricultural cooperatives since 1971.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Crop Protection Chemicals / Agrochemicals

NAICS

Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Crop Protection Chemicals (Herbicides/Insecticides/Fungicides) (IMAEAEAI)

Keywords

• Crop protection chemicals
• Agricultural pesticides
• Herbicide formulations
• Insecticide manufacturing
• Turf management chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Crop Protection Product Sales: Dongbang Agro generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of proprietary agrochemical formulations — primarily herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides — to Korean farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and turf management operators. Products are sold through a domestic branch network with direct sales support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dongbang Agro manufactures and sells proprietary crop protection chemicals — primarily herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides — formulated for rice paddies, orchards, and managed turf in South Korea. Products are offered in multiple dosage forms including granules, suspension concentrates, emulsifiable concentrates, and direct-spray tablets, and are distributed through a nationwide network of regional branch offices to Korean farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and turf managers.

Product overview

Dongbang Agro is a Korean agricultural chemical company specializing in crop protection products including herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides for rice paddies, orchards, and lawns. The company offers a portfolio of formulations including granules, suspension concentrates, and direct-spray tablets. Key products include 동시스타 (Dongsistal) herbicide granules, 올컷 (Allcut) insecticide suspension concentrate, 스리백 (Three Back) herbicide tablets, and 골든골 (Golden Goal) herbicide emulsifiable concentrate. Products are categorized by toxicity levels (Grade IV low-toxicity, Grade III moderate toxicity) and target specific crop protection needs including weed control, pest control, and disease management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Albatross Symbol (알바트로스 심볼): Corporate symbol featuring an albatross, representing dynamic and flexible corporate image. Albatross is a bird with large wings enabling the highest, furthest, and longest flight.

Products and services

• Dongsistal (동시스타) Herbicide Granule Herbicide granule formulation containing bromobutide, imazosulfuron, and ipfencarbazone for weed control in rice paddies. Classified as low-toxicity (Grade IV) with Grade III classification for certain applications. Targeted at Korean rice farmers purchasing through the regional branch network.
• Allcut (올컷) Insecticide Suspension Concentrate Insecticide suspension concentrate formulation containing cyantraniliprole and etofenprox for broad-spectrum pest control. Classified as low-toxicity (Grade IV) with Grade III classification. Launched as a comprehensive insecticide for Korean agricultural and orchard use.
• Three Back (스리백) Herbicide Direct-Spray Tablet Direct-spray herbicide tablet formulation containing benzobicyclon, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, and propyrisulfuron for weed control. Classified as low-toxicity (Grade IV) with Grade III classification. Designed for ease of application in rice paddies.
• Golden Goal (골든골) Herbicide Emulsifiable Concentrate Herbicide emulsifiable concentrate containing ipfencarbazone and simetryn for weed control. Classified as low-toxicity (Grade IV) with Grade III classification. Targeted at rice paddy weed control applications in South Korea.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products registered and approved for use across rice paddies, orchards, and turf in South Korea, compliant with Korean agricultural chemical safety standards.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Ju-O Sanga (주우상사, Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 1984Japanese joint venture partner with 19.44% equity stake (210 million KRW investment). Represents one of Dongbang Agro's earliest international partnerships, providing access to Japanese agrochemical technology and market connections.
• Bukheung Chemical (북흥화학, Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 1984Japanese joint venture partner with 6.48% equity stake (70 million KRW investment). Second Japanese agrochemical technology partner in the 1984 foreign joint investment structure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Sumitomo Chemical: Japanese chemical major with a long-standing agrochemical business and a historic equity tie to Dongbang Agro. Comparable active ingredients and target crops; competes globally but also a historical partner of the subject company.
• Corteva Agriscience: Global agriscience major providing crop protection and seeds. Overlaps with Dongbang in herbicide and insecticide chemistries for major row crops, with much deeper R&D and global pipelines.
• Bayer Crop Science Korea: Subsidiary of Bayer's crop science division, providing a wide range of crop protection products in Korea. Competes on rice and orchard chemistries but operates as part of a much larger global portfolio.
• ADAMA: Global off-patent crop protection company offering a wide portfolio of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Comparable product categories (especially rice herbicides) and competes in Asian markets including Korea.
• BASF Korea: Korean operations of global chemical major BASF, supplying agricultural solutions including crop protection chemicals. Overlaps with Dongbang in herbicides and fungicides for major Korean crops, with broader industrial chemical exposure.
• Syngenta Korea: Korean arm of global agrochemical giant Syngenta, offering a much broader portfolio of crop protection products. Overlaps with Dongbang on herbicides/insecticides for rice and orchards but with vastly larger R&D and global scale.

Direct peers

• Kyung Nong Corporation: Established Korean crop protection manufacturer with a portfolio of herbicides and insecticides for rice paddies and orchards. Closely comparable in target crops, formulation types, and domestic branch sales model.
• FarmHannong: Korean agrochemical company offering herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides for rice and field crops. Directly comparable in product mix, customer base (Korean farmers/cooperatives), and domestic distribution model.
• NongHyup Chemical (NH Chemical): Agrochemical arm affiliated with the Korean agricultural cooperative (NongHyup), selling crop protection products directly to Korean farmers. Comparable customer base and rice-paddy focus, with a uniquely strong cooperative distribution channel.

Others

• Hokko Chemical Industry: Japanese agrochemical company that has held a 6.48% equity stake in Dongbang Agro since 1984. Directly comparable as a Japanese crop protection peer and an existing partner/shareholder, providing technology and export pathway context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dbagro

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Dongbang Agro