Hong Junyang Boat Noodle: Bankruptcy After Franchise Failure

When a celebrity entrepreneur’s restaurant dream turns into a legal nightmare, the fallout is rarely just financial. Hong Junyang, the Singaporean singer-producer who co-founded The Original Boat Noodle franchise in 2018, declared bankruptcy on 14 October 2025, citing debts tied to the failed venture. Here’s what happened to the man behind the boat noodle bowls—and why the parent brand is still sailing fine.

Hong Junyang Age: 44 as of 2025 ·
Boat Noodle Closure: All 3 outlets ceased operations by 2025 ·
Bankruptcy Declared: October 2025 ·
Original Boat Noodle Brand Status: Fully operational, unaffected by Singapore franchise closure ·
Cofounders: Including JJ Lin

Five key facts, one pattern: the celebrity entrepreneur’s F&B ambitions collapsed under pandemic pressure, while the original Thai brand remains untouched.

What is the latest news about Hong Junyang and Boat Noodle?

Bankruptcy declaration in October 2025

• Singer Hong Junyang declared bankruptcy on 14 October 2025, according to The Star, citing failed F&B ventures including The Original Boat Noodle.
• The bankruptcy was reported by Lianhe Zaobao as a personal bankruptcy, not a corporate liquidation.
• Hong Junyang’s name reportedly appeared in the Singapore Government Gazette list of bankrupt individuals, as noted by The Star.
• Original Boat Noodle parent brand remains unaffected, confirmed by an Instagram post from the brand (Original Boat Noodle Instagram).

The implication: the bankruptcy signals a personal financial collapse tied to a specific franchise model, not the death of the boat noodle concept in Singapore.

Why did Hong Junyang declare bankruptcy?

Impact of Covid-19 on business

• Hong Junyang told The Star that since Covid-19 started, it had been “very, very tough” for the business.
• The pandemic severely affected restaurant operations, leading to declining revenue and eventual closure of all three outlets.

Accumulated debts

• Debts stemmed from The Original Boat Noodle franchise, as reported by The Star.
• According to Lianhe Zaobao, the last outlet closed at the end of 2024.
• Hong Junyang also had other F&B ventures—Oppa Kitchen, Bananabro and Caf—all of which closed, per Sure Boh.

The trade-off: the singer’s gamble on a restaurant chain during a pandemic turned a promising side business into a personal liability.

Is the Original Boat Noodle still open?

Singapore franchise status

• The Singapore franchise outlets operated by Hong Junyang have all closed. The last outlet shut at the end of 2024, per Lianhe Zaobao.
• The franchise at its peak had six outlets, according to the same source.

Parent brand continuity

• Original Boat Noodle (the parent brand) remains fully operational and unaffected by the Singapore franchise closure, as stated in an Instagram post (Original Boat Noodle Instagram).
• The franchise was owned by Hong Junyang and his partners, not by the parent company.

What this means: consumers can still eat boat noodle from the original brand in Thailand, but the Singapore franchise is a closed chapter.

Who is Hong Junyang?

Age and career

• Hong Junyang is a Singaporean singer-producer, aged 44 as of October 2025, per Lianhe Zaobao.
• He was identified as a singer-songwriter rather than solely an entrepreneur in the bankruptcy reports (Yahoo News Singapore).

Musical background

• Before the restaurant venture, Hong Junyang was known as a singer-producer in the Singapore music scene.
• He co-founded The Original Boat Noodle in April 2018 with two partners, including singer JJ Lin (Yahoo News Singapore).

The pattern: a musician who turned to F&B as a second career found that the restaurant business is far less forgiving than the recording studio.

What business did Hong Junyang own?

The Original Boat Noodle details

• Co-owned The Original Boat Noodle, a Thai street food chain, with the first outlet at Changi City Point (8days).
• He was the franchise owner of Boat Noodle in Singapore, operating three outlets at peak, according to Lianhe Zaobao.
• All establishments ceased operations by end of 2024.

The catch: while the business was promoted as a celebrity-backed venture, the financial risk fell squarely on the franchisee.

For Hong Junyang, the bankruptcy means a fresh start under Singapore’s legal framework—but one that involves asset seizure and a credit black mark for years. For the parent brand, the lesson is clear: a franchise is only as strong as its operator.