South Korea’s Hwaseung to Launch Its First Footwear Plant in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi, Aug 23 (KNN) In a significant development, Hwaseung Footwear Group—a South Korea–headquartered company—announced a Rs 1,720 crore investment to establish its first production facility in India, slated for Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. 

The new plant will specialise in non-leather footwear manufacturing and is anticipated to create approximately 20,000 direct jobs, making it one of the largest employment-generating footwear ventures in the state.

The announcement was made during Tamil Nadu’s inaugural TN Rising Investors Conclave held in Tuticorin on August 4, 2025, where the state government signed 41 MOUs worth Rs 32,553.85 crore in investments—expected to generate nearly 49,845 jobs.

Industries Minister TRB Rajaa highlighted that efforts to implement these MOUs are already underway. He further stated that around 77% of MOUs signed since 2021 have already been converted into real projects, amounting to Rs 10.32 lakh crore in investments.

The Tuticorin project, located in Gangaikondan (Tirunelveli district), positions Tamil Nadu as a key hub for non-leather and sustainable footwear exports. 

Hwaseung, a major supplier to global brands like Adidas, already operates factories in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China—and this new venture signals its strategic entry into India’s growing footwear sector.

Officials expect Hwaseung’s investment to attract ancillary suppliers and contract manufacturers, boosting the local industrial ecosystem. 

This project aligns with Tamil Nadu’s vision for balanced regional development and stronger integration into global supply chains.

(KNN Bureau)