"Even Koreans Don't Eat It Like This"... Foreigners Make Full Use of Cup Noodle Soup [K-holic]

Riding the K-Ramen Wave: Samyang and Nongshim Report Strong Earnings
Boosted by Rising Interest in K-Food and Expansion of Overseas Distribution Networks
Unique Ramen Recipes Shared by Users on SNS

Editor's NoteInterest in Korean culture is rapidly growing worldwide. Products and content related to Korea, including K-food and K-beauty, are permeating the daily lives of overseas consumers far beyond a niche community of enthusiasts. [K-holic] explores the 'Korean Wave' phenomenon observed across the globe and examines why international consumers are increasingly focused on Korea.

As the popularity of Korean ramen continues, its export value in the first half of this year reached an all-time high. At the same time, unique recipes featuring Korean ramen, cooked in unusual ways, are continuously emerging overseas. Cooking methods unfamiliar even to most Koreans are spreading on social media platforms (SNS), such as adding mayonnaise or chili oil to ramen or using the leftover soup from cup ramen to make steamed eggs.

K-Ramen Thrives... $935 Million in Exports in the First Half of This Year

Photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Getty Images

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the export value of K-ramen in the first half of this year was $935.39 million, a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure is close to the entire annual ramen export value in 2023, which was $952 million, marking the highest performance for a half-year period.

This export boom is driven by the growth of Samyang Foods and Nongshim, the two leading companies in Korea's ramen industry. In the second quarter of this year, Samyang Foods' consolidated sales reached KRW 770.3 billion, and operating profit was KRW 176.2 billion, increases of 39.3% and 46.7% year-on-year, respectively. Especially, overseas sales in the second quarter stood at KRW 645.8 billion, up 46.7% compared to the same period last year.

Nongshim also continues to see strong growth in its overseas business. In the second quarter, Nongshim's consolidated sales were KRW 956.1 billion, a 10.2% increase from last year, and operating profit was KRW 59.3 billion, up 47.6%. The growth of major overseas subsidiaries in the United States and China, along with increased exports, contributed to the company’s improved overall performance.

Several factors are driving the international popularity of Korean ramen, including increased recognition through Korean dramas and other Hallyu content, the expansion of overseas distribution networks, and growing interest in K-food.

The wide range of product choices is also attracting overseas consumers. Korean ramen offers a variety of options, from spicy to mild flavors and from soup-based ramen to stir-fried and mixed versions. Recent products have expanded choices even further, featuring familiar Korean tastes like kimchi and seaweed soup, as well as incorporating diverse ingredients such as cheese and black pepper. In particular, the ongoing craze for spicy flavors led by Buldak Bokkeummyeon has significantly driven international demand.

Using Cup Noodles for Steamed Eggs... 'Unique Recipe' Craze Overseas

Unique recipes using Korean ramen are continuously emerging on social media platforms such as TikTok. TikTok

Building on this popularity, more foreigners are now sharing their own creative twists on Korean ramen through social media. Unique ramen recipes using ingredients such as mayonnaise, sesame oil, and peanut butter are becoming increasingly popular online.

Earlier, YouTuber Rich Sitler, who has 930,000 subscribers, uploaded a video titled "Does Korea Have the Best Ramen in the World?" In the video, he described Korea as "the place with the world's best instant ramen." After finishing a cup of Shin Ramyun, he added two eggs to the leftover soup, mixed them together, and microwaved it for three minutes to create a soft, pudding-like steamed egg dish – a recipe that captured significant attention.

Meanwhile, TikTok creator Hailey Kim, who has approximately 72,000 followers, introduced a creamy recipe by adding egg yolk, mayonnaise, garlic, and chili oil to Shin Ramyun. Other recipes introduced include tossing Shin Ramyun noodles in a sauce made from butter, garlic, and soy sauce, and serving them with Spam, egg yolk, and scallions.

YouTuber Rich Sitler is showcasing a steamed egg recipe using Shin Ramyun. YouTube

Samyang Foods' "Buldak Bokkeummyeon" is also being enjoyed in various ways overseas. Recipes that either tone down its signature spiciness or add ingredients like cheese, eggs, and corn to modify the flavor continue to appear. Popular examples include the "Buldak Bokkeummyeon Omelette" with cheese, eggs, and sausage; "Corn Cheese Buldak Bokkeummyeon" with corn, cheese, and mayonnaise; and "Buldak Ssam," where Buldak Bokkeummyeon is wrapped in rice paper.

With K-ramen’s sustained international popularity, its growth momentum is expected to continue. Jang Ji-hye, a researcher at DS Investment & Securities, wrote in the "K-Ramen is Back" report published on August 18 that “K-ramen companies are expected to expand further by increasing their presence through mainstream and growing distribution channels in each country.” She also explained, “In Western regions like the United States and Europe, distribution through mainstream outlets such as Walmart and Costco is expanding, while in China, companies are launching products exclusively for rapidly growing snack shop channels among offline distributors, thereby cementing their distribution partnerships.”

Jang further added, “Growing interest in K-food utilizing K-content is expected to have a positive impact on K-ramen’s global market growth.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.