Shin Ramyun Surpasses KRW 20 Trillion in Cumulative Sales, Marking a New Chapter in K-Ramen History

Nongshim Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Shin Ramyun
Hosts Shin Ramyun Global Forum
425 Billion Packs Sold in Total
Overseas Sales Account for 40%

Nongshim's Shin Ramyun has made history for Korean instant noodles by reaching cumulative sales of KRW 20 trillion, the first time ever for a domestic ramen brand. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Shin Ramyun this year, Nongshim plans to accelerate its expansion into global markets such as the United States, China, and Japan, positioning itself as a leading K-food brand beyond Korea by leveraging the taste and experience of Shin Ramyun.

At the 'Shin Ramyun Global Forum' held on the 13th at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul to mark the 40th anniversary of Shin Ramyun, Nongshim CEO Yongchol Cho announced that cumulative sales of Shin Ramyun had reached KRW 20 trillion as of last year, with a total of 42.5 billion packs sold. If you convert the length of noodles—about 40 meters per pack—it would be enough to travel between the Earth and the Moon approximately 2,200 times, or between the Earth and the Sun about 6 times. Launched in 1986 as Korea's first spicy ramen, Shin Ramyun became the market leader in Korea in 1991 and has maintained its top position for 35 consecutive years.

About 40% of Shin Ramyun’s cumulative KRW 20 trillion sales have come from overseas markets. Last year, more than half of Shin Ramyun's overseas sales were generated in North America, China, and Japan. Nongshim explained that it has solidified a stable global portfolio by designating the United States and China—with their local production facilities—as strategic bases, while also expanding its export network to countries such as Japan, Europe, and Australia.

Nongshim first entered foreign markets by exporting ramen to Los Angeles in 1971 and established its first overseas office in Tokyo, Japan, in 1981. Beginning with Shanghai in 1996, the company built additional production facilities in Qingdao (1998) and Shenyang (2000), thus completing its local production system in China. In the 2000s, Nongshim established its Japanese subsidiary in 2002, began full-scale operations at its first LA plant in 2005, and launched its second U.S. plant in 2022. In addition to its subsidiaries in Australia, Vietnam, and Europe, Nongshim launched a new subsidiary in Russia this year, actively expanding its global network.

CEO Cho stated, "Shin Ramyun’s cumulative sales of KRW 20 trillion is not just a financial achievement, but a record that proves we have been part of consumers’ daily lives around the world for 40 years." He added, "Shin Ramyun will continue to represent the taste of Korean spiciness, delivering value in taste, health, and cultural experience, and will emerge as a leader of global food culture at the core of K-food."

Riding the global K-ramen wave, Nongshim is currently focusing on boosting Shin Ramyun's overseas sales. 'Shin Ramyun Tumba', which was introduced to the global market in 2024, surpassed 100 million units in cumulative sales by the end of last year. Nongshim also captured attention by forming the industry's first partnership with the Netflix animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', themed around K-pop, and releasing special products inspired by the film’s universe. In addition, the company appointed K-pop girl group aespa as global ambassadors, establishing a trendy brand image. Nongshim plans to roll out the second phase of its global Shin Ramyun campaign in the second half of this year in collaboration with aespa.

At the same time, to provide global consumers with a taste of Korean food culture, Nongshim is operating 'Shin Ramyun Bunsik' experience stores at major landmarks in Peru, Japan, Vietnam, and the United States. Next month, Nongshim plans to introduce the globally recognized 'Shin Ramyun Bunsik' to Korean consumers at 'Stage X Seongsu 52' in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.

CEO Cho emphasized, "The future direction for Shin Ramyun is to become a 'Global Noodle Solution Provider'. We will develop solutions that meet the diverse needs of consumers—health, convenience, experience, and culture." Based on this, Nongshim announced its goal to increase its overseas sales ratio to over 60% and to achieve KRW 7.3 trillion in sales and a 10% operating margin by 2030, establishing itself as a global leader in the food and beverage lifestyle sector.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Shin Ramyun, Nongshim is launching a new product, 'Shin Ramyun Rose'. It will be released first in Korea and Japan on the 18th, followed by overseas production and exports targeting the global market starting next month. Shin Ramyun Rose combines the signature spicy flavor of Shin Ramyun and gochujang umami with a rose sauce featuring globally popular ingredients like tomato and cream, reinterpreted in a Korean style. The noodles are grooved to better hold the sauce, and the product is designed for microwave cooking.

Sim Gyucheol, Head of Global Marketing at Nongshim, stated, "I am confident that the unique flavor of Shin Ramyun Rose will captivate consumers worldwide. We will continue to listen to consumers and further elevate the status of Shin Ramyun and K-food in the global market."