‘Hongdae Ramen Library’, a mecca for ramen lovers

Hongdae Ramen Library

It is especially popular with foreign tourists visiting Korea as they can taste 225 types of ramen from home and abroad.

Last year, Korean ramen exports exceeded 1 trillion won for the first time in history. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, ramen exports in 2023 amounted to USD 952.4 million, or approximately KRW 1.2757 trillion in Korean currency, an increase of 24.4% compared to the previous year. It is analyzed that the demand for K-food has increased thanks to the spread of K-content such as dramas, movies, and K-pop.

Convenience store CU opened ‘Ramen Library’ (CU Hongdae Store), a ramen specialty store near Hongdae. An average of 500 units of ramen are sold per day, with foreigners accounting for 62% of sales.

CU Hongdae Sangsang Branch

Cup ramen table concept interior

In stores where K-pop was played, Japanese and Chinese were heard more often than Korean.
 
As the name ‘Ramen Library’ suggests, about 100 types of ramen bags were displayed on the entire right wall of the store. The ramen was displayed like a library shelf, but there were so many types and quantities that it felt overwhelming just by their presence. 
 
Most of the ramen on sale is Korean, but there are also foreign ramen from Japan and Indonesia on display in one corner. What is noteworthy is that along with the product name, a brief description is provided in four languages, and the spiciness level is indicated in five levels so that even foreigners can easily choose ramen.

 

Inside the store, various types of cup ramen that are not easy to find in convenience stores or supermarkets are displayed. Snacks such as cup rice, tteokbokki, and snacks, alcohol, and beverages are also more diverse than regular stores.

There is a standing table placed in front of the ramen library. The table itself is designed in the shape of cup ramen, and the napkin and chopstick storage box also has a ramen bag design, making it a great photo zone. Most of the posts shared on Instagram with hashtags such as 'ramyun' and '韓国ラーメン' (Korean ramen) are photos taken from this standing table. Even on this day, it was not difficult to find people taking pictures of people choosing ramen or putting boiled ramen on the table.

 

No. 1 selling product in Ramen Library

In the Ramen Library, the five most sold products are labeled. The ramen that has ranked first in sales since the store opened is Nongshim's 'Bubbling Budae Jjigae Ramen'. In addition, Anseongtangmyeon Mild Flavor, Sesame Ramen, Mi Goreng Ramen, and Shin Ramyun were named in the top 5. Most of the products in the rankings were non-spicy ramen, and the consumption tendency of foreign visitors who prefer less spicy products seems to have influenced the rankings.
 
After choosing ramen like choosing a book, you boil it in the ramen cooker located near the standing table. The cooking process is the same as that of Hangang Ramen, and instructions for using the cooker are placed on each table, making it easy for foreigners to use. Next to the cooker, there is a small refrigerator containing various toppings that can be added to ramen, such as eggs, stir-fried kimchi, cheese, and vegetables, and a guide to recommended recipes. After putting the contents into a paper container for regular ramen and fried noodles, the barcode attached to the container is read by the machine, and hot water automatically comes out and cooking begins.

 

A ramen library where you can choose a product from a library lined with ramen, cook it and taste it yourself. You can find products that are not sold in regular stores, and there are many authentication shot spots, so there is a constant flow of visitors. Within a month of opening, 15,000 people visited through word of mouth, and an average of 160 people used the ramen cooker per day.
 
CU said, “Ramen Library visitors and sales are exceeding expectations, so we are currently actively considering opening a second store.” If you want to buy ramen you've never tried before, or if you're a ramen fanatic who enjoys eating ramen, I highly recommend visiting.
 
Address: 25 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Operating hours: Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year