Thursday, November 14, 2024

What are the origins of Korean ramen?

Profile photo for Hu Shi Xiong
 · 
Follow

It is Japanese instant ramen.

Instant ramen was first created and sold by Momofuku Ando from Taiwan in 1958. It became a huge hit, and a number of Japanese manufacturers imitated it to produce instant ramen under different brands.

Chicken ramen was characterized by the fact that the noodles were flavored from the start and the soup was automatically made by dissolving that flavor in hot water. This is convenient, but there is a limit to the amount of seasoning that can be added. Later manufacturers made it possible to add a variety of flavors by attaching a separate powdered soup, although this requires more time and effort.

The ramen was first noticed by Jeon Jung Yoon(全仲潤), a businessman from Korea. At the time, Korea was suffering from a severe food shortage, and there was no remedy. He turned his attention to instant ramen.

He visited a number of companies to find a machine to make instant ramen, but the machine was not made by a specific manufacturer, but was assembled by different food manufacturers.

While he was visiting a number of companies, he made a connection with one of the food manufacturers, Myojo Foods(明星食品). When he tells them that he wants to sell instant ramen at a much lower price than expected, based on the serious food situation in Korea, Kiyozumi Okui(奥井清澄), president of Myojo Foods, is surprised and consults with his management team. He had certain beliefs and told the management that he would carry out the plan. It was the company's objective to engage in socially useful activities as well as to pursue profit.

Okui then tells Jeon that he will sell two instant ramen-making machines with no margin at all, that he will provide him with the know-how to use the machines free of charge, and that he will not charge any royalties after sales begin.

At the Myojo factory, he learns not only how to handle machines, but also the need for rational and thorough quality control. In addition, Okui shared with him the recipe for the soup formula, which even many of the company's employees kept secret.

As a result, Sanyang Ramen, created in 1963, is the origin of Korean ramen.

No comments: