"Imitation as Revenge?" Japanese Media Analyzes Buldak Bokkeummyeon Plagiarism Controversy

Japan's largest ramen company, Nissin Foods, recently released 'Yakisoba Stir-fried Noodles,' which has sparked controversy for its similarity to Samyang Foods' 'Buldak Bokkeum Myun.' A Japanese media outlet analyzed that "this could be Japan's revenge on Korean companies that have continuously imitated them."

Nissin Foods' 'Yakisoba Fried Noodles' (left) and Samyang Foods' 'Buldak Bokkeum Myun' [Image source=Yonhap News]

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The Japanese edition of the news weekly 'Newsweek' reported on the 26th, "Nissin Foods' new product 'Nissin Yakisoba UFO Rich Korean-style Spicy Sweet Carbo' has become a hot topic for resembling South Korea's Samyang Foods' 'Carbo Buldak Bokkeum Myun.'

It added, "In Korea, reports have emerged claiming 'the original Japanese ramen was copied by Samyang Foods' Buldak Bokkeum Myun,'" and "there are also opinions that 'Japan, which has been continuously imitated by Korea, has this time imitated Korea.'"

Nissin Foods was the first company to create instant ramen. On the 20th of last month, it launched the new product 'Yakisoba Stir-fried Noodles.' The product packaging features the product name '볶음면' (Bokkeummyeon) in Hangul, and the packaging color is the same pink as Samyang Foods' Carbo Buldak Bokkeum Myun. The product description on the website also includes the advertising phrase "Korean-style Yakisoba Stir-fried Noodles series has appeared."

The Japanese edition of Newsweek used the phrase "Japan, continuously imitated, takes revenge?" while presenting several repeated cases of Korean food companies copying Japanese products. Specifically, these include ▲Nongshim's 'Saewookkang' ▲Lotte's 'Pepero' ▲Orion Confectionery's 'Choco Song-i' ▲Haitai Confectionery's 'Calorie Balance' ▲Namyang Dairy Products' '17 Tea,' among others.

It continued, "Korea's instant ramen was also born with Japan's help," and shared the anecdote that "the late honorary chairman of Samyang Foods, Jeon Jung-yoon, visited Nissin Foods in the early 1960s to develop instant ramen but was rejected, and eventually launched the first product with support from Meisei Foods." It then stated, "Now, Korea has become the one being imitated," and quoted a Korean university professor saying, "The Nissin stir-fried noodles plagiarism controversy is an example showing that the center of Asian soft power has shifted from Japan to Korea."

Earlier, as online criticism grew that Nissin had plagiarized Samyang Foods' product, Samyang Foods stated, "We considered legal measures, but since the product names differ, it is difficult to respond solely based on trademark rights." They added, "We are actively exploring various countermeasures related to unfair competition prevention," and also said, "We hold the trademark rights for 'Buldak Bokkeum Myun' (in Hangul and Japanese) in Japan and plan to conduct marketing activities emphasizing its uniqueness."

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