Who makes Buldak? Samyang Foods and how retailers buy it in Europe

Who is behind the Buldak brand?

Buldak belongs to Samyang Foods Co., Ltd., headquartered at 159 Toegye-ro in the Jung-gu district of Seoul. According to the company's own overview, it began in August 1961 as Samyang Oil Inc., became Samyang Food Industry Inc. that October and has carried its current name since 1990. The company site names Chun Joong-yoon as president at its founding.

Do not confuse the company with other Korean businesses that use the word Samyang. On a pack the wording to look for is Samyang Foods, and the brand name Buldak appears on the front.

When did Samyang start making noodles, and when did Buldak arrive?

Samyang's timeline lists 1963 as the launch of Samyang Ramen, which the company describes as Korea's first ramen brand, and 1972 as its first cup ramen. Buldak followed much later: the company dates Buldak Ramen to 2012, and The Korea Herald puts the launch in April of that year.

The name is Korean for fire chicken, and it describes the idea well: stir-fried instant noodles with a very hot, chicken-flavoured sauce. Today's range goes far beyond the original, with creamier varieties such as Carbonara and Rosé that reach customers who would never try the hottest packs. The Korea Herald reports that Buldak made up 84 % of Samyang's global sales in 2023, so for this company the brand is the core business, not a side line.

Where is Buldak produced?

On its plants page, Samyang lists three sites in South Korea: Iksan (completed in 1971), Wonju (completed in 1989) and Miryang, which the company timeline dates to 2022. For Miryang the page says that all exports are produced there.

For an individual pack, the label remains the document that counts. It names the responsible business and tells you what to check. If you have a question about a batch, note the best-before date and ask your supplier.

Does Samyang have a company in Europe?

Yes. The company's global networks page lists Samyang Foods Europe B.V., established on 29 July 2024, at Handelsweg 53, 1181 ZA Amstelveen in the Netherlands. It is one of five overseas subsidiaries on that list, alongside units in China, the United States, Japan and Indonesia.

Growth has been steep. The Korea Herald reported on 20 October 2026 that Samyang's European unit posted sales of 183.1 billion won last year, more than five times the previous year's figure. That is company turnover in Korean currency, not a measure of shop sales, but it shows how quickly the European business has become a priority. According to the same report, chairperson Kim Jung-soo visited the company's stand at SIAL Paris in October 2026.

How does Buldak reach a shop in Europe?

Usually in stages. The manufacturer ships from Korea, a European company or importer brings the goods into the EU, and larger distributors and wholesalers split pallets into cartons for shops. Under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, the importer into the EU carries responsibility for the food information when the manufacturer sits outside the EU, so that stage matters more than it looks.

We know of no public list of Samyang's European trade partners. For a shop this means asking your supplier directly: which market was the stock made for, who is named as responsible on the pack, and can I have an invoice with full company details? If you want to compare the routes, our guide on buying direct from the manufacturer sets out the stages and the quantities that go with them.

What should retailers check before stocking Buldak?

Recalls: Buldak is not banned in the EU, but authorities have acted on specific products and batches. Denmark's 2024 recall and the 2026 Carbonara batch recall in Germany are different cases, and our guide to the Buldak recall in Denmark separates them.

Label: Pack versions differ. Our Carbonara 130 g comes in Korean packaging and our Creamy Carbonara in English packaging. Check what the country you sell in requires, for example German mandatory information in Germany.

Halal: Certificates apply to specific products and sites, so a logo on one variety says nothing about another. Our guide to halal snacks in wholesale shows how to read one.

Heat: Tell staff which varieties are mildest, and explain to younger customers that these are not ordinary noodles.

Stock turnover: A carton holds 40 packs, which is a lot for a small shop. Start with one or two varieties, see how they sell and reorder rather than filling the shelf with every flavour at once.

What does MDH stock, and how do you order?

We work directly with the manufacturers. In our range are four Buldak items, 40 packs per carton: Carbonara 130 g, Creamy Carbonara 140 g, Quattro Cheese 140 g and Rosé 140 g. Halal certificates are available for all four, and we send them when you ask. Our goods are intended for the EU market.

No minimum order value applies, and full cartons can be combined freely with drinks or snacks. Delivery within Germany usually takes 24–48 hours, and we deliver to all EU countries. Holders of a valid EU VAT ID pay no German VAT; without a valid number we charge 19 % German VAT, and registration remains possible. The varieties are on the Buldak wholesale page, and prices appear once your dealer account is approved.

Sources

• Company overview (Samyang Foods, accessed November 2026)
• Global networks (Samyang Foods, accessed November 2026)
• Plants (Samyang Foods, accessed November 2026)
• Buldak noodles (Samyang Foods) (The Korea Herald, accessed November 2026)
• Samyang, Nongshim, Ourhome, Samlip leaders double down on Europe with new lineups (The Korea Herald, 20 October 2026)
• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (EUR-Lex)