It started with a small piece of sweetness — one that brought strangers together, opened conversations, and somehow grew into a brand.
For a long time, I walked a very different path. I started out as a programmer, and worked across IT, semiconductors, and apparel. Food was nowhere in my story.
But I love people. I love to travel. I love good food and a good drink. Whenever I had time, I wanted to meet new people on the road — but Korean was the only language I spoke.
So I asked myself one question: "Even without words, isn't there a way to share what I feel?" That was the moment Yakgwa came to mind.
On every trip after that, I packed my bag with Yakgwa and handed them to the people I met for the very first time. To my surprise, that small dessert opened hearts. We talked. We became friends. And when they came to Korea, I became their guide — introducing them once more to Korean sweets.
I can't forget those moments. One Yakgwa, and we were laughing together, growing closer, sharing joy.
“This is more than just a dessert.”
In the winter of 2025, on a day I felt deeply worn out, I asked myself a simple question: "What brings me the most joy right now?"
The answer was the memory of sharing Yakgwa with people — the laughter, the warmth, the connection. That was the answer I had been looking for all along.
Not the traditional Yakgwa alone, but something new — new flavors, new experiences, another moment of happiness to give back to the people.
I returned to the maker I had met through all those years of sharing Yakgwa. There, slowly, one by one, I began to test new flavors. And once again, I'm sharing them with people — searching for the moments that bring the most joy.
A brand built on three small but important things —
Each Yakgwa carries its own character, hoping to make someone’s day just a little brighter.
I may not be the best businessperson — but one thing is certain. Seeing people smile is what makes me happiest.
One day, I want to see people smiling — wearing a T-shirt I made, holding a character I designed, eating a dessert I baked. And I want Korean desserts to be loved across the world.
SweetNya isn't a brand that makes desserts. It's a brand that connects people, and shares small moments of happiness.
— Founder, SweetNya