Gihwa Pharmaceutical

Korea Syntex Pharmaceutical (formerly Gihwa Pharmaceutical and Kiwha Bio Life Pharmaceutical) is a South Korean pharmaceutical company specializing in traditional herbal medicines (oriental medicine), botanical extracts, and small molecule generic drugs. Originally founded in 1957 as Jinju Gihwadang Pharmaceutical, the company has a long history of producing over 300 traditional and OTC/ETC formulations, including its signature 'Onjang-hwan' and 'Sintrex Yeollyeoniksulbulodan'. In 2015, the company relocated its manufacturing headquarters from Jinju to the Iksan General Industrial Zone. Recently, the company has faced severe regulatory challenges, including the revocation of its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2024/2025 due to manufacturing record violations, and it entered corporate rehabilitation (reorganization) in 2026.