"Annual sales of 23 billion won, living in a single-room lodging"... 'Galbi Dumpling Queen' Nam Mi-kyung overcomes credit default and finger amputation to achieve a 'life turnaround' [Millionaire Next Door]

*This content was translated by AI.

The dramatic life turnaround of Nam Mi-kyung, who rose from a teenage girl unable to pay tuition to a 'Dumpling Queen' with annual sales of 23 billion won despite facing credit default and a finger amputation accident, captivated viewers.

On the 29th, the EBS program 'Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door' revealed the turbulent life story of 'Dumpling Queen' Nam Mi-kyung, who started as a poor girl supporting her family and built a dumpling company with annual sales of 23 billion won. Her indomitable narrative of forging her own path without giving up amidst numerous hardships left a deep resonance and intense emotion with viewers.

In her childhood, Nam Mi-kyung suffered the humiliation of being kicked out of the classroom mid-lesson because she could not pay her tuition. At age 19, she stepped into the workforce early to support her family by taking over for her injured father. Starting her career as a cosmetics door-to-door salesperson, she leveraged her unique grit and diligence to become the 'Insurance King' in her 30s, earning up to 20 million won in monthly revenue. However, exhausted by a life constantly chasing goals, she decisively left the insurance industry and, as if by fate, entered the dumpling distribution business. She visited a dumpling factory known for its delicious products and proposed a franchise agreement, but was humiliated and rejected solely because she was a woman. Nevertheless, she did not give up and, after persistent efforts, succeeded in securing the distribution rights. She then traveled the country on foot and achieved a monthly net profit of 20 million won in just one year, opening the curtain on a 'dumpling success story.'

However, in 1999, the situation turned upside down in an instant when reports emerged that bacteria were detected in frozen dumplings. Her business was hit directly as return requests poured in and events were canceled one after another. She eventually plummeted into the status of a credit defaulter overnight and had to endure a hellish time while being pursued by debt collectors. Standing on the brink of a cliff, she borrowed money from her older sister and started a 50-pyeong (approximately 165 square meters) dumpling factory to rise again. She recalled the harsh past, saying, "I took short naps in my car for two hours a day, from 3 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day." In the process, she even suffered a shocking accident where her finger was amputated. Just as she was enduring, a miracle-like turnaround came. A scene on a TV program where the child of a famous celebrity enjoyed Nam Mi-kyung's Galbi Dumplings became a hot topic, triggering a 'dumpling frenzy.' A single broadcast caused orders to surge, and the company, which was on the verge of closing, generated a year's worth of sales in just three months, achieving what is known as a 'big hit.' Using this as a springboard, the small factory that started in 50 pyeong expanded to its current 2,500-pyeong scale and established itself as one of Korea's leading food companies, producing 20 tons and 150 varieties of dumplings daily.

Meanwhile, on this day's broadcast, Nam Mi-kyung's humble daily life, living in a small room in the corner of the company's executive office, drew attention. Regarding this, she revealed, "After building the factory, I had no income for three years and handled the work of three men alone," and "I had no time to go home, so I started living at the company." Even now, she stays behind alone after employees leave and checks the company until early morning, expressing her undiminished passion by saying, "If I stretch out my legs and sleep comfortably at home, I would cry." Under the philosophy that "money is a tool to express love," she is practicing the 'value of companionship' by caring for employees who went through difficult times together and even their children. She has refused multiple offers to sell the company for large sums, stating, "I will pass the company on to the employees," and added with surprise, "I received a letter from my daughter renouncing inheritance in the early days." She emphasized, "In a failed situation, I started a factory and achieved many miracles with the employees," and "This company is not mine alone; it is everyone's company created together with the employees." Nam Mi-kyung's story, which rose above failure and setbacks, conveyed a weighty message that opportunities will eventually come to those who never give up.

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*This content was translated by AI.