[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-woo ] Shin Ramyun was found to be the best-selling instant noodle brand Nongshim(004370) at large supermarkets in Seoul. However, in areas with a high concentration of family households or foreign tourists, Jjapagetti and Shin Ramyun Gold took the top spot in sales, highlighting regional differences in consumption patterns.

On the 29th, Nongshim released the “2026 Seoul Nongshim Instant Noodle Popularity Map,” based on an analysis of sales data from large supermarkets and corporate-owned supermarkets (SSMs) across Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts for the first half of this year.

In 15 of the 22 Seoul autonomous districts with large supermarkets, Shin Ramyun ranked first in sales among Nongshim instant noodles. Shin Ramyun was also the best-selling product across all of Seoul, followed by Jjapagetti, Spicy Neoguri, Shin Ramyun Gold, and Anseong Tangmyeon. Shin Ramyun Gold, launched last January, ranked fourth in overall sales in Seoul. Bae Hong-dong Bibim Noodles, a summer product, and the new Bae Hong-dong Makguksu ranked seventh and ninth, respectively.

In six autonomous districts—Yangcheon-gu, Nowon-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Seongdong-gu, Yongsan-gu, and Gwangjin-gu—Jjapagetti surpassed Shin Ramyun to take the top spot. Nongshim analyzed that sales in areas with many family households reflected demand for weekend treats, while in areas with a high proportion of young people, sales were driven by “modishumer” consumption—the trend of combining various ingredients to create new dishes.

In Jung-gu, which attracts many foreign tourists, the trend differed markedly from other areas. Shin Ramyun Gold and Shin Ramyun Tumba took the top two spots. This is believed to be due to tourists visiting Myeongdong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, and Seoul Station purchasing these products—which are targeted at the global market—as K-food souvenirs.

Unlike large supermarkets, at SSMs (super-sized supermarkets) located near residential areas, Shin Ramyun ranked first in sales in all 25 autonomous districts of Seoul. This result reflects the nature of these lifestyle-oriented retail channels, where consumers tend to repurchase products with proven brand recognition and preference rather than exploring new items.

A Nongshim official stated, “Differences in ramen choices were observed depending on the local demographic composition, commercial districts, and distribution channels. We plan to introduce a variety of products tailored to consumers’ lifestyles.”