Kim Jung-soo, Vice Chairwoman of Samyang Foods, has made her first appearance on the list of Korea’s 50 richest people, driven by the worldwide success of Buldak hot chicken flavour ramen – Samyang’s ultra-spicy instant noodles, also known globally as “fire noodles.“
Several media outlets reported on April 16 that Kim ranked No. 21 on the 2025 Korea’s 50 Richest list, with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion. Forbescredited her as the key figure behind the global bestseller Buldak hot chicken flavour ramen, highlighting her leadership in transforming the brand.
Launched in 2012, Buldak hot chicken flavour ramen gained a cult following for its extreme heat and bold flavor. The product went viral through online “spicy noodle challenge” trends and has since become a global hit, contributing significantly to the rise of Korean food culture abroad.
As international demand skyrocketed, sales of Buldak hot chicken flavour ramen surged, leading to a sharp increase in Samyang’s revenue and stock price. The company, once seen as a legacy brand, found new life with the explosive popularity of this single product line.
Thanks to this growth, the value of Kim’s 4.33% stake in Samyang Foods has skyrocketed. Samyang’s stock, which traded at $17.25 a year ago, recently hit $650, increasing the worth of her holdings from $55.21 million to $211 million – a nearly 3.8-fold increase.
Kim, the daughter-in-law of Samyang’s late founder Jeon Jung-yoon, joined the company in 1998 as Head of Sales after years as a homemaker. She is now widely recognized as the driving force behind the Buldak phenomenon.
U.S. media have taken note of her impact. The Wall Street Journalcalled her “the woman shaking up the $50 billion global ramen market.” The Los Angeles Timesspotlighted her leadership in a story on how spicy ramen helped revive the company.
Analysts expect continued growth. Han Yoo-jung of Hanwha Investment & Securities noted that Samyang’s U.S. branch now operates a stable distribution system and may expand further into snack and sauce categories.
A new production plant in Miryang, scheduled for completion in the first half of this year, is also expected to fuel growth. The 8.5-acre facility will house five ramen production lines across four floors. Once operational, Samyang’s annual production capacity will increase from 1.8 billion to 2.4 billion units.
