Seoul: Samyang Foods Inc., renowned for its globally popular Buldak spicy ramyeon, announced plans to register an English trademark for its Buldak brand following a rise in counterfeit products overseas. The company intends to file an application with the Ministry of Intellectual Property later this month to secure the trademark rights to "Buldak" in English. This move aims to counteract the increasing circulation of counterfeit products that could potentially disrupt exports and undermine the brand's value.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "Buldak" is not currently protected as a trademark in South Korea. The Intellectual Property High Court of Korea ruled in 2008 that the term had lost its distinctiveness as a trademark due to its widespread use as a common term, which opened the door for broader commercial use. Copycat versions have been detected in regions such as China, Southeast Asia, and the United States, and more recently in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Additionally, products manufactured in North Korea that mimic Buldak packaging are reportedly being distributed in China.
Last month, Samyang Foods Vice Chairman Kim Jung-soo revealed at a national economic growth strategy briefing hosted by President Lee Jae Myung that the company has registered trademarks in 88 countries but is currently facing trademark disputes in 27 of them. The proliferation of imitation Buldak products has been notable since the early 2020s when Samyang's Buldak Bokkeum Myeon, often marketed internationally as fire chicken instant noodles, gained rapid popularity.
Since its debut in 2012, Buldak ramyeon has sold over 9 billion units, generating more than 5 trillion won (US$3.44 billion) in revenue. The product gained global attention after its extreme spiciness went viral during a 2014 food-eating challenge. Samyang Foods' annual sales surpassed 2 trillion won for the first time since its founding in 2025, fueled by strong demand for the Buldak series. A company official noted that securing the English trademark for "Buldak" in Korea will enhance the company's capacity to address trademark infringements overseas.