"Good Luck Finding Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon"...Foreign Media Also Surprised by the 'K-Ramen Shortage'

'Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon' Sold Out in the US
Rapper Cardi B Drives 30 Minutes to Buy

Samyang Foods' flagship product, 'Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon,' is reportedly causing a sold-out frenzy in the United States, according to foreign media reports.

On the 19th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) published an article titled "Good luck getting your hands on Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon," stating that "Korean instant ramen is rapidly selling out through word of mouth."

American rapper Cardi B posted a video on TikTok trying Samyang Foods' Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon. [Image source=TikTok]

NYT reported that Samyang Foods' Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon, launched in 2017, has become difficult to find on platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Costco-Safeway as it recently gained popularity through word of mouth. In particular, a Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon introduction video posted on TikTok earlier this month had over 57.7 million views and more than 43,000 comments as of the 19th. The 33-second video received many positive comments such as "Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon is delicious."

NYT analyzed three factors behind the ramen's popularity: breaking the mold of instant ramen by offering a sophisticated flavor called 'Carbonara,' increasing accessibility; allowing free recipe variations; and being photogenic. Cassie Young, who posted Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon content, said, "(The video) makes people hungry, crave ramen, and want to make it themselves." Her Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon video received about 700,000 'likes' on TikTok.

Samyang Foods' Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon. [Image source=Samyang Foods]

Famous American Rapper Cardi B Also Tried 'Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon'

Last month, American rapper Cardi B posted a video on TikTok eating Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon, which became a hot topic. Cardi B, who had seen many Carbo Buldak videos, said she drove 30 minutes by car to get the product. She cooked Buldak Bokkeummyeon herself by adding cheese and milk.

Although Cardi B only added about half the amount of spicy sauce, she described it as a "fun product." The video garnered 19 million views, 2.3 million likes, and 15,000 comments. Cardi B has previously posted videos and photos of herself eating Korean foods such as Korean-style hot dogs, tteokbokki, and kimchi.

Meanwhile, fueled by the popularity of Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon, Samyang Foods reportedly surpassed 5 billion cumulative product sales last year and achieved total sales exceeding 1.2 trillion won.