Seoul 7 Aug : The exports of South Korea of instant noodles reached an all-time record in the first quarter of this year due to the growing appeal of Korean pop culture, as the latest data revealed on Sunday. Exports of instant noodles, also known as “ramyeon” in Korean, totaled $383.4 million in the period between January and June according to information provided by the food industry as well as the Korea Customs Service.
The figure was up 19.9 percent over the same period in the year before when exports of ramyeon climbed to a record $319.69 million, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The increase is attributed to the increasing popularity of K-culture, as well as an increase in the demand for food that is easily prepared at home in the midst of the eradication of pandemics at public gatherings.
Exports of Ramyeon are on the rise from 2015 onwards, with their growth gaining speed following the outbreak of the coronavirus virus that caused an increase in the demand for readily cooked food items.
In the first quarter of 2020, when coronavirus-related outbreaks increased the exports of ramyeon jumped 37.4 percent from the previous year.
“Demand for K-food is on the increase thanks to K-content” an official from the food industry said.”A increasing amount of major retailers in other countries are working with Korean”ramyeon.”
China was the biggest market for the ramyeon in the first quarter, with $91.91 million worth of products sold in the country.
The US and Japan followed with instant noodles exports averaging at $47.86 million and $30.32 million and $30.32 million, respectively, according the figures.
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