Dongwon F&B is focusing on researching methods to utilize byproducts excluding the lean meat from canned tuna. This is because utilizing parts that were simply discarded can create added value. So far, only 30-40% of a captured tuna has been consumed as products like canned tuna, while the remaining 60-70% has been discarded.

Dongwon F&B is particularly interested in the heart among tuna byproducts. Research has been ongoing since 2013, a staggering 12 years ago. What led to the focus on the heart among various tuna byproducts?

Utilizes tuna flesh in canned tuna and comes from tuna by-products /Courtesy of Dongwon F&B

The person involved in the early research on tuna hearts is Kim Eun-ja, CEO of Dongwon Wine Plus. CEO Kim is the eldest daughter of Kim Jae-chul, honorary chairman of Dongwon Group. Until purchasing 100% equity of Dongwon Wine Plus, a subsidiary of Dongwon Home Food, in November 2020, CEO Kim held executive roles in the food service division of Dongwon Home Food and served as a managing director of the CMS promotion office at Dongwon Enterprise.

CEO Kim noted that she once studied traditional medicine and researched materials related to it. At that time, her father, Chairman Kim Jae-chul, said, "Instead of only seeking materials in land-based sources, why not look for them in seafood as well?" CEO Kim stated, "After that, as I quietly observed the characteristics of tuna, I thought it would be worth researching."

Tuna is a type of fish that necessarily develops a strong heart. It is the 'speed machine' of the sea. With a maximum body length of 3 meters and a weight of up to 560 kilograms, it can swim at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour when capturing prey.

Another key characteristic is that it does not stop swimming even while sleeping or resting. This is due to gill muscle issues; without swimming, it cannot supply oxygen. This explains why it has a larger heart compared to other fish and why it must handle three times the normal blood pressure and pulse rate.

Research results utilizing tuna hearts are also quite positive. At the '2025 Korea Food Science Society International Conference' held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on the 4th, researchers announced that tuna hearts can be utilized as high-value-added food. This is due to their potential benefits in enhancing intestinal function, improving muscle strength, and promoting joint health.

The academic community viewing tuna heart research also welcomes collaboration with Dongwon F&B, as it enhances research convenience. To study tuna hearts, easy access to them is essential, which is made possible through Dongwon Group.

Dongwon Group's annual tuna catch accounts for about 10% globally (based on purse seiners). This positions them among the top tiers worldwide. The scale of tuna canning processing also reaches up to 257,500 tons annually, making it one of the largest in the world.

Dongwon Group plans to intensify research on tuna hearts in the future. At the end of last year, Dongwon F&B established a material research team consisting of six employees. This is a research organization aimed at extracting high-value-added materials from tuna byproducts.

Dongwon Group started with a single distant-water fishing vessel and expanded its business to include canned tuna, then diversified into a comprehensive food company, material company, and logistics company. Researching tuna hearts and considering ways to utilize byproducts ultimately aligns with the business philosophy of Chairman Kim Jae-chul, stating, 'If you abandon your main business, you will fail; if you only focus on your main business, you will still fail.'

Lee Gi-woong, head of the food science research institute at Dongwon F&B, stated, "As research on the heart is still in its early stages, nothing has been definitively decided on how to utilize it. It could be sold as a material or as a health supplement, and possibilities are open in various directions. However, what is certain is that the research to create high-value-added materials from byproducts will continue."

Dongwon Group is transforming into a technology-driven food company, and there are expectations for the research results and applications that Dongwon Group will present in the future.

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