● Exclusive license secured for Chinese yew trees and fruit (Taxus chinensis), a scarce resource

● Cosmetic and functional health supplement foods made with yew fruit extract



SK Bioland (Jeong Chan-bok, CEO) recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Zhèjiāngguànjūnxiāngfěi Co. Ltd. (CEO Ruo Kkwanjwin, ‘the Group’ hereinafter) to set up a joint venture in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, China. The new joint venture will be incorporated with capital of 100 million yuan (17 billion Korean won) paid in kind or in the form of technology investment, with SK Bioland holding 40% equity and the Chinese side 60%. The company will be jointly managed by the two companies, and loc from its _ base_ in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, China.



Group administers over 70% of Chinese yew trees (Taxus chinensis), a scarce resource

The Chinese yew tree has been designated as a natural monument due to its scarcity. It is widely used as a health supplement and in herbal medicines in China as it is known to possess highly effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions, as well as skin whitening and hair growth functions, and to be effective in the treatment of diabetes and high blood pressure. The demand for the fruit of the yew tree is increasing rapidly as Chinese consumers have become more interested in skin health due to the severe air pollution in China. The Group exclusively operates businesses that utilize Chinese yew trees and their fruit as a company delegated by the Zhejiang provincial government to cultivate and administer the province’s yew forests. Approximately 80% of all yew trees in China are raised in Zhejiang province.

The newly founded joint venture company is exclusively supplied by the Group with good quality yew fruit. It will produce diverse types of essence oils, and raw materials for cosmetics and functional health supplements by applying the latest technologies held by SK Bioland. It will also market the products using the company’s global sales network, as well as developing diverse applied products.

“SK Bioland decided to cooperate with the Group after recognizing that yew fruits are widely used in China, believing it necessary to acquire superior quality materials in order to secure competitiveness in the Chinese market,” said Jeong Chan-bok, CEO of SK Bioland. “SK Bioland will leap forward as a company specializing in natural raw materials by securing gigantic items in the Chinese market through the current joint venture.” [End]

Reference materials 

1. Photo of the signing of the joint venture agreement 

Photo 1 

Ruo Kkwanjwin, CEO of Zhèjiāngguànjūnxiāngfěi (left) and Jeong Chan-bok, CEO of SK Bioland (right) pose for a photograph after signing the joint venture agreement. 

Photo 2 

Photo taken after the signing of the joint venture agreement: (From left) Ri Jian (CFO of Yeonhwa Group), Ruo Kkwanjwin (CEO of Zhèjiāngguànjūnxiāngfěi), Pu Siping (Mayor of ), Jeong Chan-bok, CEO of SK Bioland 

2. Reference information 

1) Chinese yew tree 

The Chinese yew tree (Torreya drandis) is a conifer; also known as the Bija tree as its needle-shaped evergreen leaves resemble the Chinese character 非, and as a ‘live fossil’ because it first appeared on earth during the Jurassic period some 170 million years ago. More than 70% of Chinese yew trees are cultivated in Zhuji and Shaoxing in Zhejiang province. 

2) Beneficial effects of yew fruits 

The fruit of the Chinese yew is a natural material that is widely utilized for medical and culinary purposes as it helps reduce fat accumulation in the body (i.e. it reduces cholesterol, and prevents high blood pressure) by accelerating the blood circulation and enhances immunity by facilitating the discharge of poisonous substances from the body. There are diverse theses concerning the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial effects of yew fruit. Related researches are under way. 

3. SK Bioland’s new logo