Pelicana Chicken
A South Korean fried-chicken franchise best known for its gochujang-based seasoned chicken.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Pelicana Chicken is a South Korean fried-chicken franchise associated with the development and popularization of sauced, seasoned fried chicken in Korea. The chain began operating in the early 1980s and became particularly known for yangnyeom chicken, in which fried chicken is coated with a sweet, spicy sauce built around gochujang, garlic, and onion. This format helped distinguish Pelicana from restaurants focused primarily on plain fried chicken and became the foundation of the brand's identity. The company's early history is tied to Daejeon rather than Daegu, despite a later-repeated origin story that placed the business elsewhere or claimed that its signature recipe had been received from another individual. The available account states that Yang Hee-gwon developed the product and business himself, while management was transferred to Mr. Na at the Gajang-dong branch in 1982. The precise founder attribution is therefore left unspecified in this dossier. Pelicana received trademark rights in 1984, an important early step in formalizing the brand as its branch network expanded. During the 1980s and 1990s, Pelicana developed infrastructure beyond individual restaurants. It completed a first production facility in Daejeon in 1985, established and moved regional or central offices, and added a second factory in Nonsan in 1990. The company also established overseas and international corporate presences, including operations connected with Saipan, the United States, and China. Its corporate and manufacturing footprint was subsequently consolidated around the Daejeon and Gyeryong areas, where the current headquarters is identified. By 2013, the chain reportedly had more than 2,000 locations in South Korea. Its core offer expanded beyond one signature sauce into a broader menu of fried chicken and flavored chicken products, allowing franchisees to serve customers seeking original, sweet-spicy, soy-based, garlic, and other seasoned profiles. The business model has remained centered on franchising, standardized sauces and preparation, and a recognizable Korean fried-chicken format. Pelicana's international expansion has proceeded through multiple markets rather than a single global rollout. The brand opened a Malaysian location with a soft opening in January 2013 and planned a larger opening later that year. It entered the United States in 2014, with locations reported in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Seattle area of Washington. Pelicana also opened in China and entered Canada in 2022 with its first Toronto location. The brand has maintained a public presence through Korean social-media channels and participation in local or national events. In 2017, it appeared at the Korean Ground Forces Festival in Gyeryong in the event's large food zone. Pelicana marked its fortieth anniversary in 2022. Publicly available reference material identifies Yang Hee-Kweon as chief executive officer as of 2014, but it does not provide enough current information to establish the present executive leadership with confidence. Pelicana is best positioned as a mass-market, accessible Korean fried-chicken chain whose differentiation rests on seasoned chicken, especially gochujang-based yangnyeom chicken, supported by a large domestic franchise network and selective overseas operations.
History
Pelicana Chicken's documented history begins in the early 1980s in Daejeon, South Korea. A first franchise was recorded on 20 March 1981, while the chain's commonly cited founding year is 1982. On 27 April 1982, leadership was transferred to Mr. Na at the Gajang-dong branch in Daejeon. The brand's early growth was closely connected with yangnyeom chicken, a fried-chicken product coated in a red, sweet-spicy sauce based on gochujang, garlic, and onion. This style became central to Pelicana's reputation and helped establish seasoned chicken as a major category within Korean fried-chicken culture. The origin of the signature product has been the subject of a repeated story claiming that founder Yang Hee Kwon obtained a secret recipe from Yoon Jong Gye. The reference material indicates that this account was found to be false and that Yang Hee Gwon developed the business and products independently. It also clarifies that the business began in Daejeon rather than Daegu. A related Supreme Court matter involving seasoned chicken concerned trademark rights rather than a patent over the recipe. Because the available material does not resolve the founder's formal corporate designation consistently, the founder field is left blank. Pelicana formalized its brand position during a period of rapid branch expansion. It received trademark rights on 3 November 1984. A first factory was completed in Gasuwon-dong, Daejeon, on 10 January 1985, followed by the establishment of chain headquarters in Daemyeong-dong, Daegu, and the registration of Buto as a limited company later that year. The company continued to reorganize its administrative structure through the late 1980s and 1990s. Seoul headquarters were established in 1989, expanded regional operations followed in Daegu, and a second factory was completed in Duma-myeon, Nonsan, in 1990. International organization also began relatively early. A Saipan headquarters was established in 1990, and Pelicana U.S.A. Inc. was established in Los Angeles in 1992. The chain headquarters moved to Seoul in March 1992, while later corporate integration returned important headquarters functions to Gasuwon-dong, Daejeon, in 1995. A farming association was established in Yesan County in 1996, and a direct-holdings company was established in Boryeong in 2000. Sauce-production capacity was expanded to Duma-myeon, Gyeryong, in 2000, strengthening the infrastructure required for a standardized franchise system. The company expanded its chain headquarters in Duma-myeon, Gyeryong, in 2007. This area became the location associated with its present head office. During the 2010s, Pelicana developed formal digital communication channels, creating an official blog in 2010, an official Twitter account in 2011, and an official Facebook page in 2012. A corporate identity and emblem were also produced in 2011. The company described expansion into Southeast Asia and Oceania in 2012, followed by the Malaysian soft opening in January 2013. By 2013, Pelicana reportedly operated more than 2,000 outlets in South Korea. The United States became another important overseas market from 2014, with reported locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Seattle area. The brand also established operations in China. In 2017, it participated in the Korean Ground Forces Festival in Gyeryong, appearing in the event's large food zone. In 2022, Pelicana opened its first Canadian location in Toronto and marked its fortieth anniversary. The chain therefore combines a large Korean franchise base, centralized sauce and production capabilities, and selective international expansion.
- 2022
First Canadian location opens
[1]The chain opened its first Canadian location in Toronto.
- 2022
Fortieth anniversary
[1]Pelicana marked forty years of operations.
- 2017
Participation in the Korean Ground Forces Festival
[1]Pelicana participated in the 2017 Korean Ground Forces Festival in Gyeryong's large food zone.
- 2014
United States expansion
[1]Pelicana expanded into the United States and established locations in several states and the Seattle area.
- 2013
Malaysian soft opening
[1]Pelicana Chicken Malaysia held a soft opening on 4 January 2013.
- 2012
Expansion toward Southeast Asia and Oceania
[1]Pelicana reported expansion activity toward Southeast Asia and Oceania.
- 2007
Headquarters expanded in Gyeryong
[1]The chain headquarters expanded in Duma-myeon, Gyeryong, on 27 April 2007.
- 2000
Sauce-production capacity expanded
[1]The sauce-production factory was expanded to Duma-myeon, Gyeryong.
- 1992
Pelicana U.S.A. established
[1]Pelicana U.S.A. Inc. was established in Los Angeles, supporting the brand's international organization.
- 1990
Second factory completed
[1]A second factory was completed in Duma-myeon, Nonsan, as the company expanded its production infrastructure.
Products and positioning
Mass-market Korean fried-chicken franchise emphasizing sauced and seasoned chicken, broad flavor variety, and accessible franchised dining.
Seasoned fried chicken · 1982
Yangnyeom chicken
Pelicana's signature-style product is fried chicken covered with a red, sweet-spicy sauce made with gochujang, garlic, and onion. The product is central to the brand's identity and is associated with the wider growth of sauced Korean fried chicken.
Fried chicken
Original fried chicken
The original preparation provides a less heavily sauced alternative to Pelicana's seasoned varieties. It represents the conventional fried-chicken foundation around which the chain has built its broader flavored menu.
Flavored fried chicken
Soy-based seasoned chicken
Soy-based chicken is part of the brand's broader range of flavored products. It extends Pelicana's offering beyond gochujang seasoning with a darker, savory profile suited to customers seeking a milder alternative.
Flavored fried chicken
Garlic-flavored chicken
Garlic-flavored chicken is among the seasoned variants associated with Pelicana's menu. It reflects the chain's strategy of using multiple recognizable flavor profiles to support repeat visits and franchise-level menu variety.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Korean Ground Forces Festival participation
South Korea
Pelicana participated in the 2017 Korean Ground Forces Festival in Gyeryong, appearing in the event's large food zone.
Outcome. The participation provided local event visibility, but a quantified commercial outcome is not reported.
Brand decisions
2022
Entry into CanadaStrategyBackground
Pelicana continued selective international expansion after establishing operations in South Korea, the United States, China, and other markets.
Action taken
The chain opened its first Canadian location in Toronto.
Aftermath
Canada was added to the brand's reported international footprint.
2014
Expansion into the United StatesStrategyBackground
The company sought to take its Korean fried-chicken format into the North American market.
Action taken
Pelicana established U.S. locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Seattle area.
Aftermath
The United States became a reported overseas operating market for the brand.
2013
Entry into MalaysiaStrategyBackground
Pelicana pursued expansion beyond South Korea as part of its Southeast Asian and Oceania strategy.
Action taken
The Malaysian operation held a soft opening in January 2013 and planned a subsequent grand opening.
Aftermath
Malaysia became one of the brand's reported overseas markets, although the available material does not quantify the later store network.
2000
Expansion of sauce-production facilitiesStrategyBackground
A franchise network centered on standardized seasoned chicken required dedicated sauce-production capacity.
Action taken
Pelicana expanded its sauce-production factory to Duma-myeon, Gyeryong.
Aftermath
The expansion strengthened the production base supporting the chain's flavored-chicken positioning.
1984
Securement of trademark rightsOtherBackground
As the branch network expanded, the brand needed formal protection for its name and identity.
Action taken
Pelicana received trademark rights on 3 November 1984.
Aftermath
The registration helped formalize the brand during its early franchise growth. The available material does not provide further legal detail.
Sources1 sources
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