Samyang Foods' exports surpass 1 tln won in 2024 on 'Buldak' spicy noodles - Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean food company Samyang Foods Inc. said Wednesday its exports surpassed the 1 trillion-won (US$688 million) mark for the first time in its history last year thanks to growing demand for its globally popular 'Buldak' spicy ramyeon.

The company's outbound shipments amounted to 1.34 trillion won in 2024, up 65 percent from a year earlier, according to the company.

The amount accounts for 77 percent of the company's overall sales for the year at 1.73 trillion won, it said in a press release.

Samyang Foods attributed the record-breaking spike in exports to increased sales of the spicy ramyeon products in global markets, particularly in the United States and China.

About 1 billion units of Samyang's Buldak Bokkeummyeon, commonly known as "fire ramyeon," are sold annually in 100 countries, according to the company.

Since its debut in 2012, accumulated sales of the hot chicken-flavored instant noodle products have reached over 7 billion units, worth more than 4 trillion won, it said.

The Buldak ramyeon became popular as its intense spiciness ignited a viral food-eating challenge a decade ago in 2014.

This file photo taken Feb. 19, 2025, shows Samyang Foods' Buldak Bokkeummyeon product at a large discount store in Seoul. (Yonhap)