Samyang's Buldak tops 10 billion units, unveils new mascot Peppo

by Kim Dong-young Posted : June 5, 2026, 09:42Updated : June 5, 2026, 09:42
Samyang Foods new Buldak packaging featuring the brands new character Peppo Courtesy of Samyang Foods
Samyang Foods' new Buldak packaging featuring the brand's new character, Peppo/ Courtesy of Samyang Foods
 
SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - South Korea's Samyang Foods announced that cumulative sales of its Buldak instant noodle brand had surpassed 10 billion units, a milestone the company is marking by rolling out a next-generation character, Peppo, to anchor an aggressive push into licensing and digital content.

The fiery brand, which turns 14 this year, crossed the threshold at the end of May after generating about 7 trillion won ($4.54 billion) in cumulative revenue, the company said Friday.

Buldak now sells in some 100 countries, churning out 2 billion units a year, or roughly 63 packets every second worldwide.

Growth has accelerated sharply since the brand passed 1 billion units in 2017, hitting 4 billion in 2022 and 9 billion in 2025 before vaulting past 10 billion in barely half a year.

Buoyed by the surge, Samyang became the first Korean food maker to top $900 million in exports last year and now accounts for more than 60 percent of the country's ramen shipments abroad.

To capitalize on the momentum, Samyang is making Peppo, a chick hatched from an egg laid by predecessor mascot Hochi, the new face of the Buldak universe.

Developed by affiliate Samyang Anni, the digital-native character has drawn 1.06 million subscribers on YouTube since its 2024 debut and has already featured on packaging for products such as Buldak Mac & Cheese in North America.

"In the food industry a character usually serves as a tool to promote a product's flavor, but we questioned that formula and decided to raise ours as a global brand with a life of its own," said a Samyang Anni spokesperson.

New domestic packaging featuring Peppo begins rolling out this month, starting with Buldak sauce, while branded merchandise and an official website are slated to follow, part of what Samyang calls its "eatertainment" vision first unveiled in 2023.