ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
SoftBank Shares Slide as Oracle’s AI Spending Plans Fuel Market Jitters 
Trump’s Approval of AI Chip Sales to China Triggers Bipartisan National Security Concerns 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
SpaceX Edges Toward Landmark IPO as Elon Musk Confirms Plans 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Air Transat Reaches Tentative Agreement With Pilots, Avoids Strike and Restores Normal Operations 
China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List as U.S. Considers Easing Nvidia Export Curbs 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
SK Hynix Considers U.S. ADR Listing to Boost Shareholder Value Amid Rising AI Chip Demand 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
SpaceX Insider Share Sale Values Company Near $800 Billion Amid IPO Speculation 
Mizuho Raises Broadcom Price Target to $450 on Surging AI Chip Demand 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
The instant noodle export in South Korea has reached a new record, and it is the highest-ever recorded result. Amid the continuous popularity of K-pop and K-content, the demand for K-food and other products continues to grow as well.
The exports of the Korean ramyeon reportedly went beyond the $200 million mark, and this was achieved in the first quarter of this year. This is the first time in history that the sales of the country’s instant noodles has reached this record number.
According to The Korea Economic Daily, the instant noodles of Korean brands that were manufactured in overseas-based plants are not included in the number since they were technically not exported. Based on the records of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation and the country’s Customs Service, the initial export value of the ramyeon sold in Q1 was $280 million.
Since the exporting of Korean instant noodles started in 1969, this is the first time that it has surpassed the $200 million mark. The export value was 14.3% higher than the record that was set last year, which amounts to $181.93 million.
Industry experts believe that the expansion of ramyeon outside of South Korea was naturally accelerated by the popularity of K-dramas and other K-contents. Most of these shows and films show scenes or feature the Korean ramyeon thus, foreign viewers were influenced and would like to try them as well.
Moreover, Korean instant noodle makers have been building their factories overseas and have started local marketing of their products. This certainly contributed to the higher sales of the noodles.
Nongshim and Samyang Foods are currently the leading exporters of ramyeon, and the former has even set up manufacturing plants in the United States to keep up with the demand there and in other neighboring regions.
Photo by: Xiaoqian Gao/Unsplash
