Northern European YouTuber's Claims on 'Buldak Recall'
"Preference for Domestic Products, Exclusive Sentiment Against Imports"
"Concerns About Taxes and Perceived Risks"
Recently, Danish authorities issued a recall order for spicy ramen products such as Samyang Foods' Nuclear Buldak Bokkeummyeon, citing potential harm to children. Amid this, interpretations have emerged suggesting that such measures stem from xenophobia and exclusive sentiments toward imported goods, drawing attention. On the 17th, Swedish YouTuber ‘Swegukin’ uploaded a video titled “The Real Reason Denmark Bans Korean Samyang Ramen Due to Severe Xenophobia” on his YouTube channel. In the video, he claimed, “Sweden and Denmark share similar mindsets,” and “There is a separate reason why Denmark bans Samyang ramen.”
Recall announcement of Nuclear Buldak Bokkeummyeon by the Danish Food Authority. Photo by Danish Veterinary and Food Administration website
The YouTuber said, “First, Europeans travel a lot within Europe but not much outside of it,” and “There are Danes who think countries like Japan, Korea, and China are scary and dangerous.” He added, “This is why they are banning (Samyang ramen) now,” and shared, “When I was 10, a German pen pal friend always said, ‘I ate Japanese ramen,’ or ‘I ate Korean this,’ and asked if we had it in Sweden. I always said, ‘We only have domestic products,’ and it’s still the same now.”
He continued, “Whether it’s Denmark, Norway, or Sweden, they prefer domestically produced goods over imports,” and “If you want to eat imported products like ramen or soju in Sweden, the taxes are insane. Soju costs 20,000 to 30,000 won per bottle, and Buldak ramen is three times more expensive than in Korea.” He added, “They have concerns about taxes and imports and feel that these products are risky.”
He also stated, “Some people think, ‘Of course you die because you eat these things in Korea,’” and “They are banning it now because they are scared and don’t want to import or sell it.” Furthermore, he explained, “They think their own products are important, so they don’t import,” and “When they want to eat ramen, there are governments and citizens who think, ‘We have our own brand of ramen, so why bother importing and eating it?’”
Earlier, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) issued a recall order on the 11th (local time) for three products from Samyang Foods: ‘3x Spicy Nuclear Buldak Bokkeummyeon,’ ‘2x Spicy Nuclear Buldak Bokkeummyeon,’ and ‘Buldak Bokkeumtangmyeon.’ It was reported that the capsaicin content was excessively high, posing a risk of acute poisoning to consumers. It could harm the health of children and some adults.
However, this sparked debates online. On the American online community Reddit, a post gained attention stating, “It’s not surprising that Danes think spicy ramen is poison. I have a Danish friend who thinks even shrimp bread with a little pepper is too spicy.”
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