The Driving Force of Gyeonggi Province’s Economy — Korea Nakajo Co., Ltd., a Hidden Champion
25 Years of Expertise in Ice Maker and Ice Shaver Manufacturing… Collaborating with Global Brands to Expand Overseas
Headquartered in Gimpo — experiencing strong sales growth
One-touch snowflake ice shavers with easy cleaning system
19 product lines suitable for cafés and offices
Acquired ISO 9001 certification, proving quality management excellence
As the phrase “record-breaking heatwave” returns every summer, the popularity of shaved ice continues to soar. Last summer was no exception — and neither is this year.
While the sight of premium fruit shaved ice priced in the tens of thousands of won caught attention last year, this summer’s sensation is the “cup shaved ice,” reportedly causing headaches for part-time workers due to the overwhelming demand across franchise brands.
Though toppings and presentation are important, the essence of shaved ice is, without a doubt, the ice itself. This is why traditional shaved ice made from hard, watery ice has disappeared, replaced by soft, milk-based snowflake ice.
Located in Gimpo, Korea Nakajo Co., Ltd. manufactures machines that produce the key ingredient of shaved ice — ice — specializing in ice makers and ice shavers. Founded in 2000, the company proudly celebrates 25 years of expertise. That history has not been in vain; the company takes pride in possessing unmatched know-how in ice maker and ice shaver manufacturing.
In particular, Korea Nakajo emphasizes its confidence in its ice-shaving technology, which requires a high level of precision and technical capability. The company’s ice shavers produce fine-textured ice, allowing users to enjoy delicious, soft “snowflake” shaved ice. Their machines feature a simple one-touch operation and an easy cleaning system, making them extremely user-friendly.
As the weather heats up and demand for iced beverages such as iced Americanos increases, Korea Nakajo’s ice makers can already be found in numerous cafés both domestically and overseas.
The company currently offers 19 product lines, with daily ice-making capacities ranging from as little as 30kg to as much as 150kg, depending on the model. Compact and slim designs also make several models ideal for use in office settings.
Thanks to its strong product lineup, Korea Nakajo’s sales have shown remarkable growth, nearly doubling in 2024 compared to 2022.
Since 2022, under the leadership of CEO Choi Jong-moon, the company has been seeking collaborations with multinational brands and focusing on expanding into overseas markets.
A Korea Nakajo representative stated, “We have consistently focused on product quality management, and this has been proven step by step through achievements such as our ISO 9001 quality management certification. Given our confidence in the quality of our ice makers and ice shavers, we firmly believe our products will succeed in global markets as well.”
Source: Gyeongin Ilbo — Reporter Kang Ki-jung (kanggj@kyeongin.com)
