Kyochon F&B, Kyung Hee Univ. to collaborate on dish creation

The company and university signed an MOU that may see students develop menu items.

From left: Chung La-na, head of Kyung Hee University's Department of Culinary Art & Food Design Management, Chung Nam-ho, dean of the university's College of Hotel & Tourism Management, Kyochon F&B CEO Yoon Jin-ho and Bang Moon-sung, head of the company's research and development center pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday. [KYOCHON F&B]

Kyochon F&B's next fried chicken dish could be envisioned by university students, with the company teaming up with Kyung Hee University for menu development.

The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kyung Hee University's College of Hotel & Tourism Management to work with the college's students to develop a new fried chicken dish, according to Kyochon F&B on Wednesday. The MOU signing ceremony was held Tuesday.

The company is behind the fried chicken franchise Kyochon, most known for its honey combo chicken.

Students taking the Food Product Development and Capstone Design course in the spring 2024 semester, a course offered in the tourism management college, will pitch ideas for new fried chicken dishes and try to develop them into a real menu.

Special lectures by Kyochon F&B employees will be offered, teaching students about how the company and the overall food and beverage industry works.

Students will also be able to set up booths with the company during the Daegu Chimac Festival this year, an event where people can enjoy chimaek, or a portmanteau of the Korean words for fried chicken and beer.

Ingredients needed during the menu development process will be provided by Kyochon F&B.

The company said it also has plans to offer scholarships and internship opportunities to the students.

"We hope this partnership will be an opportunity for us to develop fried chicken dishes that are enjoyed by the young generation, and for the students to experience how food and beverage companies actually work and participate in relevant projects," said a spokesperson for Kyochon F&B.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]