Shin Chun-ho, Chairman of Nongshim, Passes Away
Ramen Exported Just 6 Years After Founding in 1965
Annual Sales of 2.6 Trillion KRW, Spicy Flavor Leader Shin Ramyun "Best in the World"
Company Name "Nongshim" Reflects Farmer's Heart, Striving for High Quality and Technology
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] "We must not simply sell products but accelerate our global market penetration with a systematic strategy. Please grow Nongshim in the world with the highest quality without any falsehood."
On the 27th, Shin Chun-ho, chairman of Nongshim, passed away peacefully at the age of 92. The late Chairman Shin's final request to employees was still to conquer the global market and maintain genuine quality. Having devoted his entire life to the ramen business and promoting Korean flavors worldwide, he is regarded as a pioneer who laid the foundation for the globalization of K-food through his unwavering commitment to 'food patriotism.'
Shin Chun-ho, Chairman of Nongshim (4th from the left), is attending the inauguration ceremony of the LA factory in 2005 and posing for a commemorative photo.
The Ramen Legend Built with Tenacity
Chairman Shin called himself a ramen man and snack man, dedicating his life to a single field. The small company with nine employees grew into a global food company with annual sales of 2.6 trillion won. Nongshim first exported ramen in 1971, six years after its founding, becoming the first domestic food company to enter overseas markets. Despite suggestions to alter the ramen flavor to suit foreign tastes, Chairman Shin insisted on maintaining the spicy flavor. He persistently persuaded employees, saying, "Korean taste will become the most global taste."
From the 1980s, Chairman Shin pushed exports with the motto, "Make Shin Ramyun visible wherever you go in the world." Nongshim opened a local office in Tokyo, Japan, in 1981. Being selected as the official supplier for the Seoul Olympics laid the cornerstone for global Nongshim beyond Asia. During this period, Nongshim's domestic ramen market share exceeded 60%. In 1996, the first overseas factory was established in Shanghai, China, followed by a factory in Los Angeles, USA, in 2005.
The star of Nongshim's overseas business is undoubtedly Shin Ramyun. Shin Ramyun is recognized as a Korean food brand chosen by the world's top companies such as Walmart, Costco, Amazon, and Alibaba. In the U.S. market, Shin Ramyun is priced three to four times higher than Japanese ramen. It is sold not only through major U.S. retail channels like Walmart but also in key government facilities, marking the first time ramen has been stocked there.
Currently, Nongshim supplies ramen to over 100 countries worldwide, from the pinnacle of Europe to the southernmost tip of South America. Nongshim's overseas sales grew from $260,000 in 1976 to $990 million. It is said that Chairman Shin smiled brighter than anyone when The New York Times named Shin Ramyun Black the world's best ramen last year.
The ‘Ramen Artisan’s’ Emphasis on Technology and Quality
After graduating from university in 1958, Chairman Shin started a confectionery business with his successful older brother, the late Shin Kyuk-ho, in Japan but began seeking independent ventures from 1963. Despite his brother's opposition, Chairman Shin focused on the fact that ramen, which could be cooked quickly and easily, was gaining great popularity in industrialized and urbanized Japan. He believed, "Ramen in Korea should be a staple food, unlike the convenience food ramen in Japan," and thought, "It should be an affordable, tasty, and nutritious substitute meal to significantly solve food issues."
At age 35 in 1965, Chairman Shin started the ramen business by bringing in a ramen-making machine with a capital of 5 million won in Shindaebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. He always emphasized technology. His philosophy was that one must stand on their own to go far. From the company's establishment, he set up a separate research and development (R&D) department and chose to develop technology in-house rather than importing manufacturing methods from abroad. He told employees, "Since we are starting from scratch, our technical staff will struggle, but the technology developed by our own hands will remain our intellectual property."
In 1980, Shin Chun-ho, chairman of Nongshim, embarked on a business trip to Europe to investigate spray equipment.
‘In Nongshim’s Way, Nothing is Impossible’ (以農心行 無不成事)
Chairman Shin's management philosophy was ‘In Nongshim’s Way, Nothing is Impossible’ (以農心行 無不成事). It embodies the spirit of a farmer who works honestly and diligently, believing that nothing is unattainable with such a mindset. This is why he named the company ‘Nongshim’.
Chairman Shin emphasized that challenges are necessary to produce high-quality products, and failures are inevitable in the process. This led to the creation of Saewookkang. Using about 80 trucks carrying 4.5 tons of flour, the product was developed after repeated failures. He always stressed to employees, "Failure does not just bring losses; it gives wisdom to avoid repeating the same mistakes and builds strength to face other failures. Therefore, it guides us closer to success."
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