Viral video shows ingredient discrepancy in Shin Ramyeon sold in Korea, Japan

A viral video showcasing a notable contrast in the quantity of soup ingredients found in Shin Ramyeon mini cups sold in Japan compared to those in Korea has sparked a renewed wave of controversy.

A Japanese netizen recently shared a video on social networking sites comparing mini instant noodle cups of Shin Ramyeon sold in Japan and those in Korea. In the video, dried garnish was poured out to highlight that the Japanese version contained a higher quantity of ingredients.

"Even if you travel to Japan and ask what kind of Shin Ramyeon it is, it tastes different because it has more noodles," the netizen said, claiming that the Japanese version is the most delicious. The video quickly went viral, amassing nearly 6 million views within just 10 days.

Posts comparing the portion sizes of Japanese and Korean versions of Shin Ramyeon have been surfacing consistently. Last August, a user purchased both Korean and Japanese instant noodles of various sizes and types to conduct a detailed comparison.

Shin Ramyeon mini cups sold in Japan and Korea/ Captured from Instagram

"I didn't notice much of a difference in flavor," the poster wrote, but added, "the Japanese version definitely had more noodles in the small cup."

In October 2017, some people in the online community also compared cup noodles from different countries. Some individuals claimed that "domestic cup noodles should contain more solid ingredients."

The resurgence of the noodle controversy is also attributed to the narrowing price gap, a consequence of the decline in the value of the Japanese yen against the Korean won. Previously, a small cup of Japanese Shin Ramyeon used to be up to twice as expensive as the Korean version. However, as domestic prices have steadily risen and the yen has weakened, the prices recently became nearly identical.

There has even been a price reversal, with the Japanese version of Shin Ramyeon becoming cheaper than the Korean one.

In response, an official at Nongshim, the maker of Shin Ramyeon, said the composition of ingredients in the Japanese version of Shin Ramyeon mini cup varies depending on local market conditions and food regulations.

"The Japanese market tends to have a large amount of noodles in cup noodles," he said. "Nongshim, as a latecomer, has changed the noodle ratio to increase its competitiveness in the local market." As for the price difference, he added, "Shin Ramyeon for Japan is a product that competes with Japanese cup noodles, so it is not reasonable to compare it with domestic products simply by price."

Despite Nongshim's explanation, the outrage over the "reverse discrimination" against the domestic market has not gone away.

"I don't understand why Korean products are sold cheaply and in large quantities only in foreign countries, but when foreign products are imported into Korea, they become more expensive," a Korean netizen said. "Let's eat the Japanese version of Shin Ramyeon instead."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was assisted by a generative AI solution and edited by The Korea Times.