'Better to eat Shin Ramyun in Japan': Korean version has 'less ingredients'

The Japanese Shin Ramyun small-sized cup noodle, left, and the same product sold in Korea [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Reports are circulating that Nongshim's Shin Ramyun cup noodles, a top-selling Korean ramyeon product, have more ingredients when sold in Japan.

Posts made on internet forums and social media said that “it is better to eat Shin Ramyun in Japan than spending that money on buying Japanese cup noodles” became viral, according to local media reports on Sunday.

A person residing in Japan posted online, comparing the two small-sized cup noodles that were sold in Korea and in Japan.

“Some may say why bother eating Shin Ramyun when visiting Japan, but the taste is different,” the post said. “First of all, [the Japanese one is] richer in ingredients. To be honest, the Japanese Shin Ramyun tastes better.”

The comparison video shows that the Japanese product has more dried vegetable flakes like green onions and shiitake mushrooms, while the Korean product has fewer ingredients.

The Japanese product is also more affordable, according to the post.

A YouTuber posted a similar video comparing the two cup noodles last year, agreeing that the Japanese product has more ingredients at a cheaper price.

However, the YouTuber also said that the Korean product was more to his taste, claiming “the Korean product has chewier noodles and a meat base tasted soup.”

Netizens also were divided into two parties.

Some agree with the difference, leaving comments such as, “The Japanese product looks way better. I also had Shin Ramyun in Taiwan in the past, and the products there also had more ingredients than the Korean one” and “I could see the product quality difference between the Korean product and products for overseas.”

Others, on the other hand, said that “the cultural difference led to the different taste and ingredients.”

“The ingredients of the Japanese Shin Ramyun small-sized cup noodles are different as we produce the product following the local market conditions and food regulations,” a Nongshim official said. “The product is competing with other local Japanese cup noodles, so it is hard to simply compare the two products based on its price.”

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]