VIDEO An American host battles Korean high schoolers with fire noodles

Howdy Korea’s new host, Joel Jay Lane, has already proven he’s not afraid of the spotlight — or of spice. In one of his first challenges, Joel went head-to-head with three Korean high school girls in a fiery showdown to see who could endure the heat of Samyang Foods’ legendary Buldak Ramen.

Korean teens are known for their spice tolerance, thanks to years of eating kimchi and chili peppers. So when Joel decided to test himself against them, the stakes were high from the start.

The competition began with a spicy snack trending on TikTok among teenagers, but that was only the warmup. Next, the real test arrived: a lineup of Buldak flavors progressing from the creamy Carbonara to the classic Original and finally the notorious 2x Spicy Buldak — marketed as the world’s spiciest Buldak Ramen.

The rules were simple: no milk, no Coolpis (a popular Korean peach-flavored yogurt drink that cools spicy flavors), no shortcuts. The students declared with confidence, “We’re Korean high school girls — of course we can handle it.” Joel, refusing to back down, matched them bite for bite.

As the rounds progressed, lighthearted laughter gave way to flushed faces, shaky voices and nervous glances. Each step up the spice ladder tested both Joel and his challengers’ limits, turning the contest into equal parts endurance trial and comedy.

But just when it seemed the noodles had reached their peak, the producers unveiled a final challenge — one last surprise to push them even further.

So, who lasted longest? And who reached for relief first? Viewers will have to watch the video to find out. What’s certain is that in Korea, spice isn’t just food — it’s competition, pride and culture.

Watch the full episode, “Korean high school girls vs. HOTTEST fire noodle,” now on Howdy Korea’s YouTube channel.