When it comes to Korean soul food, instant ramen is a must. As of 2022, Korea ranks second among countries in per capita ramyun consumption, with Vietnam holding the top spot. Last year, the average Korean consumed approximately 77 servings of ramyun noodles.
Fueled by this ramen craze, a convenience store offering over 200 varieties of ramen in one place has emerged in Seoul.
The Korean convenience store chain CU inaugurated its first "K-Ramen Specialized Convenience Store" (CU Hongdae Sangsang Branch) in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 4th.
Operating under the "Ramen Library" concept, it showcases more than 100 popular types of ramen from both domestic and international markets. Compared to the standard variety found in general convenience stores, it boasts three times the selection of bagged ramen products.
The K-Ramen Specialized Convenience Store prominently features ramen noodles on one side. A massive ramen display case with 100 compartments, measuring 6 meters in width and 2.5 meters in length, is installed, presenting a colorful array of ramen dishes like a palette.
Visitors can sample a total of 105 types of bagged ramen, including 90 Korean varieties, Sapporo-owned ramen from Japan, Fujiwara Hokkaido Hakodate salt ramen, Vietnamese rice noodles, and Indonesian migo.
In addition to this, the store offers more than 225 types of ramen, earning the "K-Ramen Specialized Convenience Store" the title of the convenience store with the most extensive ramen selection in the country. The store is equipped with three instant ramen cookers for customers to prepare their ramen. Noteworthy features include a store environment aligned with the concept, featuring recommended toppings to accompany ramen and a standing tasting table modeled after the shape of a cup ramen container.
CU explained that with Korea's ramen exports surpassing KRW 1 trillion, they conceived a distinctive convenience store that brings together an extensive collection of ramen.
According to trade statistics from the Korea Customs Service, ramen exports increased by 24.7% year-on-year to $785.25 million in the first 10 months of this year. Applying the won-dollar exchange rate of 1,300 won, this amounts to approximately 1.208 trillion won. This marks the first time that ramen exports have exceeded 1 trillion won.
Exploring the World of Ramen at CU’s Hongdae Sangsang Branch
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