Consumers make comparisons between Nissin Foods noodles, Samyang ramen

Nissin Foods' Korean-style sweet and spicy Yakisoba Pokkunmyeon, left, and Samyang's Cream Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon [NISSIN, SAMYANG]

Consumers are pointing out the similarities between Japanese noodle company Nissin Foods’ latest product and Samyang’s popular Buldak Ramen.

Nissin Foods recently released “Korean-style sweet and spicy Yakisoba Pokkunmyeon,” introducing the product as “wavy noodles characterized by addictive carbonara sauce in a mixture of chicken, gochujang and cheese.”

Gochujang is the Korean word for hot pepper paste.

The product's package is pink, with a cute character in the left corner and the word “bokkeummyeon,” which means fried noodles, written in Korean.

Consumers have written posts online, comparing the product to Cream Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon in Samyang’s Buldak Ramen series, which is similar in design and taste.

“We have reviewed taking legal measures in regards to the matter, but since the product name is different, it’s difficult to take a legal stance,” said Samyang spokesperson. “We do have trademark rights over Buldak Bokkeummyeon in Korean and Japanese.”

The spokesperson added the company will instead try to focus on marketing activities to accentuate the originality of its product.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]