South Korean coffee franchise Paik’s Coffee, operated by The Born Korea, is stepping up its international expansion with a 10-year master franchise agreement in Taiwan that targets more than 150 stores within five years.
The agreement was signed recently in Taiwan by The Born Korea CEO Paik Jong-won and representatives of the local partner. The partner’s identity has not been disclosed at its request. Under the rollout plan, the first 10 stores are scheduled to open during the first year, with the network expected to surpass 150 locations by the fifth year. The first Taiwan outlet is planned for the first half of 2027.
The Born Korea is currently conducting market research in Taiwan, including analysis of commercial districts and local consumer preferences, before finalising its operating strategy. The company said the approach will allow Paik’s Dabang to adapt its menu and store operations to market-specific conditions rather than simply replicating its Korean model.
The Taiwan agreement is structured as a master franchise, giving the local partner rights to develop the brand in the territory and sub-franchise units to third-party operators. This model allows The Born Korea to pursue rapid network growth while relying on a local partner’s market knowledge, development capabilities and franchise infrastructure.
The deal comes as Paik’s Coffee accelerates a broader overseas push. The brand rebranded as Paik’s DABANG in 2026 as part of its global brand strategy, placing the English-language name more prominently in its identity while retaining “DABANG” to reflect its Korean coffee heritage.
Japan is the brand’s latest overseas testing ground. Paik’s DABANG opened directly operated stores in Tokyo’s Shimbashi and Kanda districts in August, with the company reporting weekday sales of more than 1,000 drinks a day. The Japanese business has also introduced a local app for mobile ordering and coupons; the app reportedly attracted about 4,000 registrations within four days, with around 30% of orders placed through the platform during that period.
Beyond Taiwan and Japan, The Born Korea is preparing further international expansion. The company plans to enter China, India and the United States in 2027, while Cambodia and Turkey are also being considered as potential markets. Paik’s DABANG already has operations in Japan, Singapore and the Philippines.
The wider The Born Korea franchise portfolio provides the infrastructure behind the expansion strategy. The company operates 21 food-and-beverage franchise brands, including Paik’s DABANG, Paik’s Bakery, Paik’s Noodle and Hanshin Pocha. Across its portfolio, it has 2,984 outlets in South Korea and 129 overseas locations spanning 13 countries, according to Yonhap.
Paik’s DABANG itself has built its domestic position around a value-oriented coffee proposition, becoming one of South Korea’s major budget coffee franchise brands since its launch in 2006. The franchising model is already well established in Korea: The Born Korea’s franchise information shows that a standard 10-pyeong (approximately 33 m²) Paik’s DABANG outlet has published startup costs of about KRW 65.53 million, excluding VAT, including equipment, interior work, signage and initial supplies. The company also provides franchisee training, store-management support and a membership/order platform.
The brand’s domestic franchise economics also illustrate the scale of the Korean business. The Born Korea’s published franchise data shows average annual sales rising from approximately KRW 285.0 million in 2021 to KRW 324.5 million in 2024. These figures are based on the company’s franchise disclosure information and are not a forecast for individual franchisees.
The Taiwan agreement therefore represents more than another overseas store opening: it shifts Paik’s DABANG into a large-scale master-franchise development model, with the local partner expected to build the territory from 10 stores in year one to more than 150 within five years.
