[Column] The Unending Controversy Over In-Flight Cup Noodles

The controversy sparked by Korea's largest airline, Korean Air, discontinuing the in-flight cup ramen service shows no signs of abating. Even with the government stepping in to support the ramen debate, consumer backlash and airline responses remain varied. Some argue it is for safety reasons, while others counter that it has little to do with safety. Consumers can only be confused. Who is being honest?

Korean Air stopped providing in-flight cup ramen service starting from the 15th of this month. The company's stated reason is safety. They claim that when the aircraft encounters increased turbulence and shakes, there is a greater risk of passengers getting burned by spilled hot ramen. Coincidentally, three days after announcing this policy, a flight to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, experienced severe turbulence that shook the cabin significantly. A video showing items falling from the overhead bins into the aisle was released, leading customers to accept the danger of hot ramen.

At the same time, there is considerable distrust toward Korean Air's claim. This is because, despite citing safety as the reason, the airline insists on continuing to provide ramen in business class and above. Customers were upset by the stinginess of having to buy much more expensive tickets just to eat ramen. They sarcastically questioned whether the expensive seats are immune to turbulence. The alternative of offering sandwiches, pizza, and other items instead of cup ramen was also met with skepticism. These items are snacks served at scheduled times outside of the main in-flight meals, unlike cup ramen, which can be requested anytime.

Rather, it appears to be a measure to improve flight attendants' productivity rather than safety. Usually, once one person starts eating cup ramen on board, numerous requests follow. From the flight attendants' perspective, cup ramen requests are inefficient tasks that require a lot of effort and are cumbersome to carry. Korean Air seems to have judged that reducing cup ramen duties can lower the physical and mental fatigue of flight attendants and, broadly speaking, contribute to customer service and safety. The fact that hot coffee and tea, which are just as hot as ramen, are still provided shows that safety is not the sole reason.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issued a recommendation letter to 11 domestic airlines in mid-month, advising them to stop cup ramen service as part of turbulence accident prevention measures. The ministry recommended stopping ramen service regardless of seat class. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, especially in the aviation sector, wields strong influence over the industry. Considering past behavior, the ministry's 'recommendation' is practically an 'order.' Nevertheless, Korean Air continues to offer ramen service in some seat classes.

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) still provide ramen service. Their argument is that it is questionable whether restricting ramen actually guarantees safety. An LCC official said, "Despite the recent trend of increased turbulence, there have been no burn accidents caused by ramen," adding, "Cup ramen is provided in zipper bags, and hot beverages like coffee are served with lids on to manage burn risks."

Given past behavior, the ministry should have pushed more strongly, and LCCs should have backed down. However, LCCs cannot afford to lose ramen, a best-selling item on board, and they know there are many customers who want it. The positions of major airlines, LCCs, and the government regarding ramen service differ. Ultimately, a convincing stance on in-flight cup ramen service must be established first. Until the reasons are clarified, confusion will inevitably continue.