Nongshim Shin Ramyun reaches 2 trillion won in cumulative sales on 40th anniversary

사진 확대

Nongshim said it has surpassed 20 trillion won in cumulative sales for Shin Ramyun, which marks its 40th anniversary. This is the first such record in Korea's instant noodle industry. Shin Ramyun's cumulative sales volume over the past 40 years has reached 42.5 billion units.

Launched in 1986 as Korea's first spicy instant noodle, Shin Ramyun rose to the No. 1 spot in the market in 1991 and has held that position for 35 years. Nongshim CEO Cho Yong-cheol said, "Shin Ramyun's 20 trillion won in cumulative sales is a record that proves it has been part of consumers' daily lives around the world for the past 40 years."

Overseas sales account for 40 percent, with key bases in the U.S., China and Japan. About 40 percent of Shin Ramyun's cumulative 20 trillion won in sales came from overseas markets. North America, China and Japan account for more than half of Shin Ramyun's overseas sales. Nongshim has built local production facilities in the United States of America and China, and expanded its export network to Japan, Europe and Australia.

Nongshim first exported ramen to Los Angeles (LA) in 1971. It opened its Tokyo Office in 1981, and began building production bases in Shanghai in 1996, followed by Qingdao in 1998 and Shenyang in 2000. It started operations at its first factory in LA in 2005 and its second U.S. plant in 2022.

Global expansion through a two-way product strategy Nongshim is pursuing a product strategy that connects domestic and overseas markets. Shin Ramyun Toomba, a product based on the popular domestic recipe Shin Ramyun Toowoomba, surpassed 100 million cumulative sales by the end of 2025 after its global launch in 2024. Shin Ramyun Gold, a reinterpretation of an export-only product for the domestic market, sold 10 million units within a month of its release.

Nongshim has signed a partnership with Netflix's animated film KPop Demon Hunters and named girl group Aespa as its global ambassador. It also operates Shin Ramyun experience stores called Shin Ramyun Bunsik in Peru, Japan, Vietnam and the United States of America.

Shin Ramyun Rose to launch simultaneously in Korea and Japan Nongshim will release Shin Ramyun Rose, a 40th anniversary product for Shin Ramyun, in Korea and Japan on May 18. It plans to expand the launch to global markets starting in June. Shin Ramyun Rose combines the savory taste of Shin Ramyun and gochujang with tomato and cream.

It uses a grooved noodle surface and a microwave cooking method. Nongshim also plans to launch a bagged noodle version in June. Shim Kyu-cheol, head of Nongshim's global marketing division, said, "The K-Rose flavor of Shin Ramyun Rose will offer a new appeal to consumers around the world."

사진 확대

Q1. Which Korean instant noodle brand has reached 20 trillion won in cumulative sales?

Nongshim's Shin Ramyun marked its 40th anniversary by recording 20 trillion won in cumulative sales. This is the first such record in Korea's instant noodle industry.

Q2. Which noodle brand has maintained the No. 1 market position for 40 years and succeeded in global expansion?

Shin Ramyun has held the undisputed No. 1 spot for 35 years since taking the market lead in 1991. It generated 40 percent of its cumulative 20 trillion won in sales from overseas markets.

Q3. Which noodle brand achieved global growth through the spread of K-Food culture and local production overseas?

Nongshim's Shin Ramyun has built local production facilities in the United States of America and China and operates experience stores at major landmarks around the world. It has recorded cumulative sales of 42.5 billion units.

사진 확대