# Sungsimdang

Sungsimdang (Korean: 성심당; Hanja: 聖心堂; lit. sacred heart hall) is a Western-style bakery in Daejeon, South Korea. It is most well known for soboro-ppang and chive bread. The small chain is said to be one of the best in the nation and is a representative brand of the city. Annual sales were KRW 53.2 billion in 2018.

## Description

Founded in 1956 as Sungsimdang, the bakery was incorporated in 2001 as Rosso Ltd. under Lim Gilsun. After incorporation, the brand opened additional bakery locations and also restaurants solely within Daejeon. In 2012, the brand received patent 10-1104547 for their soboro-ppang recipe. Sungsimdang baked bread for Pope Francis during his visit to the peninsula in 2014. The following year, Gilsun was granted the Order of St. Gregory the Great as he had been donating bread to orphanages and nursing homes for decades.
Seongsimdang continued to grow, with annual sales reaching 40 billion won in 2015. In 2021, it topped the list of non-branded bakeries in the country, recording 63 billion won in sales. It also recorded 80 billion won in sales in 2022, and surpassed 100 billion won with 124.3 billion won in 2023.
It is a famous bakery that ranks first in sales among non-franchised bakeries nationwide. It is one of the most famous places in Daejeon and the most recognizable among the three major bakeries in the country. In addition to running the highest profile among famous bakeries, it is a bakery that has been introduced in the Michelin Guide and is evaluated as one of the best practices and representatives of local self-employment.

## History

In December 1950, founder Lim Gil-soon and his family left Heungnam Pier on the Meredith Victory and settled on Geoje Island. Lim boarded the Tongilho in 1956 to move his residence to Seoul, but his train broke down at Daejeon Station and stayed in Daejeon. Lim and his family had nowhere to go, so they visited the Daeheung-dong Cathedral near Daejeon Station and informed the bride of the situation. The bride gave two bags of flour out of regret, and Lim started a steamed bun business with a "Sungsimdang" sign in front of Daejeon Station.

## Brands and Branches
### Head office

Bread purchased at the Sacred Heart Hall on the first floor is free to eat at the terrace kitchen on the second floor.
* Address: Bangtong-dong, 1st floor, 15, Daejong-ro 480beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon

### Daejeon Station Branch

It is a store located in Daejeon Station, and its advantage is that you can buy it before taking the train or come out to buy it during transfer time.
* Address: 2nd floor, 215 Jungang-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon

### Lotte Department Store Daejeon Branch

It is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. separately from the department store. It sells signature menus exclusively for Lotte Department Store in Daejeon.
* Address: 598, Gyeryong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, 1st floor (Goejeong-dong, Lotte Department Store Daejeon Branch)

### DCC Branch

It is the most recently opened fourth branch, and the expansion was done in November 2023.
* Address: 107, Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 1st floor (Doryong-dong, Daejeon Convention Center)
There are brands such as Cake Butique, Old Taste, Café, Restaurant (Terras Kitchen, Flying Pan, Udonya, Piatto), Cultural Center, and Ovenstory.