Korea’s Samyang Foods to reintroduce beef fat ramen after 36 years

(Photo by Samyang Foods/Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)

Samyang Foods is bringing back ramen made with beef fat (tallow) for the first time in 36 years and will unveil its new product line at a launch event next month.

The upcoming release, titled Samyang Ramen 1963, commemorates the company’s introduction of Korea’s first instant ramen that same year.

According to Samyang, the new ramen uses beef fat for its signature flavor while being reimagined as a premium product tailored to modern consumer tastes.

Samyang last used beef tallow in its ramen before the infamous “tallow controversy” of 1989, when the company was accused of using industrial-grade beef fat.

Although the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs later confirmed the product was safe, the scandal severely damaged Samyang’s brand image and market share.

Since then, the company has exclusively used palm oil in its ramen production until now.