Exports of ramyeon, kimchi up 36% and 37% amid pandemic

Exports of ramyeon and kimchi from January to May jumped 36 percent and 37 percent to $249 million and $162 million, on-year, respectively, according to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation.

Increased online purchases were attributed to the pandemic, as more people were forced to stay home and purchase food online.

The Oscar-winning film "Parasite," which featured signature noodle dish Chapaguri and made it globally famous, also helped boost demand for ramyeon.

In May alone, overseas sales of ramyeon jumped to $55 million, 40 percent higher on-year, while exports of kimchi surged 60 percent from the same month in 2019 to $59 million.

Kimchi exports also posted double-digit growth from February to May from the same period last year.

Demand for ramyeon is expected to increase in the United States and Southeast Asia during the current quarter with the coronavirus still keeping people at home.