From Banker to 'Coffee King': Terra Rosa Founder Sells All Shares After 23 Years
Creatrip Team
5 days ago
Kim Yong-duk, founder of Terra Rosa who helped build Gangneung's famed "coffee street," has sold all his shares, marking a full transition from founder-led to professional management after 23 years. UCK Partners, a domestic private equity firm, now controls 74.3% of Terra Rosa following purchases in 2021 and 2024 (total investment about 88 billion KRW). Terra Rosa began in 2002 as a specialty coffee roastery in Gangneung when Kim left a 20-year banking career to return to his hometown; the company is credited with popularizing the "roastery-style" cafe and helping turn Gangneung into a major coffee tourism spot, including the annual Gangneung Coffee Festival. Under UCK, Terra Rosa has integrated the full coffee value chain from specialty green-bean sourcing (direct imports from Latin America and North Africa) to roasting and B2B/B2C distribution, expanded direct retail to 34 stores nationwide (recent openings at Seoul Station and Yongsan I'Park Mall), and plans ventures like a partnership with French chocolatier Alain Ducasse's brand. Last year, operator Haksan reported KRW 55.7 billion in sales (up 22.7%) and operating profit of KRW 3.1 billion (up 34.8%). (Gangneung Coffee Street: a local area famous for many cafes)
