First hitting store shelves in October 1986, Shin Ramyun became the top-selling instant noodle brand in South Korea in 1991 and has held the top spot ever since, with cumulative sales volume reaching about 42.5 billion packs.
"It is proof that we have been part of consumers' daily lives in South Korea as well as around the world for 40 years," said CEO Jo Yong-chul at an event in Seoul, touting it as a "rare milestone for a single food brand" in the country. "What Shin Ramyun has built is ultimately time, memories, and moments in people's lives," he added.
He then recalled the late Shin Choon-ho, the company's founder, citing him as saying, "Korean flavors will become the most global flavors."
Cho also unveiled ambitious plans to raise sales to 7.3 trillion won by 2030 while increasing the share of overseas revenue to more than 60 percent. He pointed to the upcoming completion of an export-dedicated factory in Busan, the company's expanding confectionery business in the U.S. market, and diversification into new business areas as reasons for optimism.
The company has also been boosting its global marketing and promotional activities. "Shin Ramyun has become a product representing Korean culture beyond just food," a Nongshim executive said, citing its first advertisement featuring K-pop girl group aespa, which drew more than 500 million views worldwide shortly after its release.
The company also plans to open space in Seoul's hip, trendy neighborhood of Seongsu next month, where young people and foreign visitors can sample its products.
"Today's consumers are not just looking for one tasty product," Cho said, stressing a multi-faceted approach to meet their diverse needs, whether health-conscious, convenience-seeking, or culturally driven.
"Nongshim will become a company that can satisfy any consumer taste through noodles, no matter what flavors they want," he vowed, reminding that its achievement of exporting to about 100 countries and becoming a top-five brand in the global instant noodle market did not come easily.
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