Korean Air to Stop Serving Instant Noodles on Flights

If you’re traveling on Korean Air between now and Wednesday, August 14, you’ll be among the last travelers to enjoy one of the airline’s signature experiences. The Seoul-based carrier has announced that starting Thursday, August 15, it will no longer be serving cups of instant ramyun noodles to passengers in economy class due to the risk of spillage or burns from the hot broth. 

Travelers in business or first-class cabins will still be allowed to order Shin Ramyun Cup Noodles, but the airline says it’s no longer feasible for passengers in the more tightly-packed economy cabin. “The climate crisis has recently spiked the turbulence’s frequency,” a Korean Air spokesperson told Korea Times. “Compared to 2019, the frequency has more than doubled this year. Some passengers have suffered serious burns.”

The airline says it will replace the cups of Shim Ramyun with microwavable (and non-spillable) alternatives that may include corn dogs, “hot pocket”-style turnovers, or pizza. 

“One passenger starts slurping that noodle inside the cabin, and more people are immediately enticed to order the same thing,” the spokesperson continued. “Then the cabin crews get busy preparing food and serving them, sometimes carrying multiple cups at once. When a plane at the same time hits turbulence and shakes, people can get hurt.” 

On the bright side, Nongshim — which makes the spicy Shim Ramyun noodles — says that the United States is its second-biggest market, and its products are available at a wide range of supermarkets and big-box stores, including Amazon, Costco, and Walmart. According to the Financial Times, the company is working to triple its sales in the U.S. by the end of the decade and aims to become “the biggest instant noodle maker in the market” by 2030. 

So, what’s the difference between ramyun and ramen? The answer is partly culinary, partly linguistic. Ramen is a Japanese dish made with a long-simmered broth and wheat noodles; the broth for tonkotsu or “pork bone” ramen may take two days to make. But there are also “instant” versions of ramen, like those now-ubiquitous Cup Noodles. 

Ramyun (also spelled “ramyeon”) is a South Korean version of instant ramen with a different — and spicier — flavor profile. Nongshim uses the “ramyun” spelling for its packaged noodles, but some other South Korean brands may use “ramen” on products that are exported to other countries. Which version is correct? That’s a tricky question. 

The Korea Herald contacted the National Institute of Korean Language, which noted that the word should be written as “ramyeon” … but its guidelines only refer to “pure Korean words.” The Korean word for instant noodles is a borrowed “loan word,” taken from the Japanese word “ramen.” 

The outlet further explains that Japan’s first-ever instant ramen, Nissin Chikin Ramen, was invented in 1958, while Korea’s first instant noodles were released five years later — but those noodles were made with the help of a Japanese instant noodle company. 

“In South Korea, ramen refers almost exclusively to Japanese noodles with fresh ingredients and spices, usually served at restaurants,” the Herald continues.“Meanwhile, ramyeon refers to instant noodles with dried vegetables and artificial flavoring. Ramyeon is served at eateries, too, but cooks use pre-packaged instant noodles.”

Regardless of whether you spell it “ramen” or “ramyun” or “ramyeon,” you won’t be able to order them on Korean Air flights. Unless, of course, you’re sitting in the front of the plane.