코로나 사태로 라면 수출 41% 증가...짜파구리 인기도 한 몫

As people around the world stock up on necessities so that they can stay home until the COVID-19 situation improves, one popular item in their grocery carts have been South Korean instant noodles.
Why the growing demand for South Korean instant noodles?
Choi Won-jong explains.
As fears over COVID-19 increase across the globe, people are stockpiling food at supermarkets in Europe and the United States.
And one of the most popular foods to stock up on is instant noodles.
According to the Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute, 51 million U.S. dollars of instant noodles were exported in March
That's an over 40 percent increase from the same month last year, and twice the amount exported in January.
"Exports in the first quarter grew more than 50% compared to the same period last year. Exports to China saw the largest growth, exports to the U.S. more than doubled, and those to Thailand were up more than 50%."
Nongshim, one of the largest instant noodles companies in South Korea, now has a factory in the U.S… making it easier to sell its products locally.
The company saw a 40% on-year surge in overseas sales in March, driven by the popularity of its Jjapaguri noodles after they were featured in the hit South Korean film 'Parasite'.
"We made a video of recipes for Jjapaguri in 11 languages. Foreigners who are not familiar with instant noodles can still cook delicious Jjapaguri."
Affordable and easy to cook, South Korean instant noodles are in demand as an emergency food source at supermarkets around the world. Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.