Brand
Samyang Foods
Samyang Foods (삼양식품) is a South Korean food company that pioneered instant ramen in Korea when it launched the country's first ramen product in 1963. Today the company operates in 90 countries, driven largely by its Buldak (불닭) brand, a line of fire chicken-flavored noodles that became a global viral phenomenon through social media challenges. Buldak launched in 2012 and went viral through the Fire Noodle Challenge beginning in 2014, accumulating over 1.5 million TikTok challenge videos by 2024 and driving a 150% sales increase in North America and Europe. Cumulative Buldak sales surpassed 7 billion units since launch.
Samyang Foods posted revenue of 2.3518 trillion won (approximately $1.7 billion USD) for fiscal year 2024, up 36% year over year, with operating profit jumping 52% to 523.9 billion won. Overseas markets accounted for 81% of total sales, and exports surpassed 1 trillion won for the first time in 2024. Samyang America reported $190 million in revenue in the first three quarters of 2024 alone. In January 2025, Samyang was named Gen Alpha's favorite brand in the United States, ranking alongside major hot sauce brands in the Fastest-Growing Brands category. Samyang activated a Buldak pop-up experience at Coachella in April 2025, extending the brand's presence into global music culture. The company signed ENHYPEN as the first-ever global ambassadors for its MEP brand in October 2025, and launched a Valentine's Day campaign in February 2026 featuring BOYNEXTDOOR as Buldak brand ambassadors, including a campaign film that played on a Times Square billboard in New York.
1 articlessamyangfoods.com
Gallery
Korean ramyeon bowl. Photo: Timber Tank (CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
Ambassadors & Partners
2026
Samyang BuldakEndorsement
2025
Samyang MEPEndorsement
Fans Also Ask
What is Buldak ramen?
Buldak ramen is a line of spicy fire chicken-flavored instant noodles produced by South Korean company Samyang Foods since 2012. Known for its intense heat, Buldak became a global viral product through social media challenges. Cumulative Buldak sales surpassed 7 billion units worldwide by 2024.
Who are Samyang Foods' K-pop ambassadors?
Samyang Foods signed ENHYPEN as the first global ambassadors for its MEP brand in October 2025. BOYNEXTDOOR fronted the Buldak brand in a February 2026 Valentine's Day campaign that included a Times Square billboard activation in New York, styled as a music video.
How big is Samyang Foods globally?
Samyang Foods operates in 90 countries and posted revenue of 2.3518 trillion won (approximately $1.7 billion USD) for fiscal year 2024, up 36% year over year. Overseas markets accounted for 81% of total revenue, with exports surpassing 1 trillion won for the first time in 2024.
How did Buldak ramen become globally viral?
Buldak went viral through the Fire Noodle Challenge, which first spread on social media in 2014. By 2024, over 1.5 million TikTok challenge videos had been created around the product, driving a 150% sales increase in North America and Europe. In January 2025, Samyang was named Gen Alpha's favorite brand in the United States.
What flavors does Buldak ramen come in?
Buldak ramen is available in multiple varieties including Original, 2x Spicy, Carbonara, Cheese, Habanero Lime, and seasonal limited editions. The line continues to expand with new regional flavors introduced for specific markets across Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
