Samyang Foods' Buldak spice brand ventures into reality TV with dating show

by Kim Dong-young Posted : April 17, 2026, 10:11Updated : April 17, 2026, 10:11
Collaboration with Samyang Foods Buldak brand with reality dating show from media platform Nectar Courtesy of Samyang Foods
Collaboration with Samyang Foods' Buldak brand with reality dating show from media platform Nectar/ Courtesy of Samyang Foods
 
SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Samyang Foods has launched a reality dating show built around its Buldak spicy noodle brand, marking the company's latest push to embed the product into global youth culture beyond conventional food marketing.

The South Korean food company announced Friday that it has partnered with U.S. media platform Nectar to produce "Heat Match," a dating show filmed against the backdrop of a major California music festival. The first episode aired April 11 on Nectar's official YouTube channel, with the finale set for release Saturday.

The show features 10 single contestants board a Buldak-branded bus and travel to a desert party venue. A central conceit of the format is using Buldak's heat level as a compatibility test, with contestants gauging mutual tolerance for spice as a proxy for emotional chemistry.

"This campaign is an elevation of the Buldak brand spirit into cultural entertainment," a Samyang Foods spokesperson said, adding that the company aims to offer young audiences worldwide a shared experience through the Buldak brand.

Samyang said the initiative is part of a broader effort to position Buldak as a cultural icon woven into the lifestyles of young consumers globally.