Korean Five Guys shops land spots in chain's top 10 global branches

All four Five Guys shops in Korea have ranked in the U.S. burger chain's top 10 global branches after a year since the first domestic store opened in Gangnam, southern Seoul, in June 2023 to much craze.

A customer eats a burger at U.S. burger franchise Five Guys' Yeouido branch at The Hyundai Seoul department store in western Seoul. [YONHAP]

All four Five Guys shops in Korea have ranked in the top 10 of the U.S. burger chain's best-selling global branches after a year since the first domestic store opened in Gangnam, southern Seoul, in June 2023 to much craze.

The Gangnam, Yeouido, Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Seoul Station branches have all been listed in Five Guys’ “Global Top 10 locations,” and have been recording profits except from their opening periods, FG Korea, the franchise’s domestic operator, said Tuesday. An additional fifth store is planned to open in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, in September. More branches will be expanded outside of the greater Seoul thereafter.

Five Guys will also start a trial run for deliveries in Seoul through its partnership with delivery service Coupang Eats. Customers will be able to order delivery from the Gangnam branch from July to December. FG Korea plans to expand the delivery service based on the trial results.

The burger chain was introduced to Korea by Kim Dong-seon, the third and youngest son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn and head of business strategies at Hanwha Hotels & Resorts and Hanwha Galleria. He was promoted to vice president of Hanwha Galleria, Hanwha Group’s retail arm, in November following the successful launch of Five Guys.

Five Guys started as a local shop in Virginia in 1986 and is known for its free peanut policy and customizable toppings. Its prices vary across the United States and around the world. For instance, their bacon cheeseburger costs $13.09 in New York City and $14.39 in Los Angeles as of March, according to USA Today, while it costs 17,400 won ($12.51) in Korea and 13.45 pounds ($17.04) in London.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]