Ramyeon
Also known as: ramyeon, ramyun, 라면, Korean instant noodles, Korean ramen
Ramyeon is the Korean name for instant noodles: the first ramyeon, Samyang Ramen, was launched by Samyang in September 1963.
Ramyeon (라면) is the Korean name for instant noodles. The first ramyeon, Samyang Ramen, was launched by Samyang in September 1963 against a background of food shortages, inspired by Japanese instant noodles. In the company's own words, ramen has become the second staple food in Korea.
Nongshim was founded in 1965 and has carried that name since 1978; its timeline lists Nongshim Ramyun in 1975, Neoguri in 1982 and Shin Ramyun in 1986. For Shin Ramyun the same timeline records 2017, when it became the first Korean food sold in all Walmart stores in the United States. Samyang also launched Buldak Ramen (Hot Chicken Flavor) in April 2012.
The labels of basic Shin Ramyun in the Open Food Facts database list wheat flour, potato starch, palm oil, salt and acidity regulators, with a packet of hot seasoning. Salt per 100 g is recorded between 2 and 4.3 g across markets, because recipes and portions differ. Samyang's own Samyang Ramen page gives 510 kcal and 1,930 mg of sodium per serving.
Ramyeon is not Japanese ramen. Ramen is a dish of kansui noodles in broth, while ramyeon is an instant product, a block of noodles with a seasoning packet; instant noodles were invented in Japan in 1958.
Why it matters to you. 1,930 mg of sodium per serving of Samyang Ramen is roughly 4.8 g of salt when converted, and WHO recommends adults eat less than 5 g of salt a day. So it is better not to use the whole seasoning packet.
Facts
| Country | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Year founded | Samyang Ramen: September 1963; Shin Ramyun: 1986 |
| Raw material | Wheat flour, potato starch, palm oil, salt (Shin Ramyun) |
| Nutrition | Samyang Ramen, per serving: 510 kcal, 1,930 mg sodium |
How it connects to Noodles
Ramyeon → kind of → Instant noodles → kind of → 🍜 Noodles
Links
- Traditions
- Nissin Foods
- Part of
- Instant noodles
- Similar and different
- Samyang, Nongshim, Samyang Ramen, Shin Ramyun, Cup Noodles, Buldak, Ramen, Neoguri, Chapagetti
Frequently asked questions
How does ramyeon differ from the ramen sold in supermarkets?
Korean instant noodles: a block with a seasoning packet; Japanese ramen is a dish of kansui noodles in broth.
Is it true that ramyeon is the same as Japanese ramen?
No. Ramyeon first launched in 1963 on a Japanese model, while ramen is a broth dish.
Who made the first Korean instant noodles?
Samyang, in September 1963, against food shortages.
How much salt is in a packet of ramyeon?
A serving of Samyang Ramen has 1,930 mg of sodium, roughly 4.8 g of salt, while the WHO advises adults less than 5 g a day.
What do Korean instant noodles say on the pack: ramyeon, ramyun or ramen?
All three spellings occur; ramyeon and ramyun mean the Korean instant product, ramen the Japanese broth dish.
What to read next
- Shin Ramyun — Shin Ramyun is Nongshim's range of spicy beef-broth noodles, developed in October 1986 and sold in bags, cups and bowls.
- Nissin Foods — Nissin Foods is a Japanese company founded by Momofuku Ando that released Chicken Ramen, the world's first instant noodles, in 1958 and Cup Noodles in 1971.
- Cup Noodles — Cup Noodles is Nissin's range of instant noodles in a cup, the first of its kind in the world: sales began on 18 September 1971 in Tokyo.
- Buldak — Buldak is Samyang's range of spicy noodles: the first Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen launched in April 2012, and sales of the Buldak brand passed 1 trillion won in July 2019.
- Chapagetti — Chapagetti is Nongshim's range of jajangmyeon-style noodles with a black bean sauce, developed in March 1984.
Similar
Sources
- Samyang Foods: company history (first Korean ramen, September 1963)
- Samyang Foods: Samyang Ramen, the first Korean ramen
- The Korea Herald: September 15, 1963, Samyang releases first ramyeon
- Nongshim: company history
- Open Food Facts: Shin Ramyun, Nongshim (label data)
- WHO: salt reduction fact sheet