What is secret to eating ramyeon like Song Hye-kyo?

Song Hye-hyo / Captured from Instagram

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Actress Song Hye-kyo recently drew attention with an unexpected “ramyeon mukbang.”

She shared behind-the-scenes photos from her trip to France on social media. Alongside her elegant appearance at a global event in a formal dress, she posted a photo of herself eating cup noodles, revealing a surprising, down-to-earth charm. Known for her strict self-care, the moment sparked reactions like “unexpected” and quickly became a hot topic.

While celebrities eating instant noodles isn’t unusual, the contrast of eating them during an official event in a formal gown made the scene feel fresh and intriguing. Naturally, it also raised the question: Is there a way to eat ramyeon without gaining as much weight?

Go easy on broth

The soup in instant noodles contains most of the sodium and some dissolved fats. Leaving the broth can reduce calorie intake by about 50-100 kcal and significantly lower sodium consumption. This may help reduce bloating and water retention.

However, most of the calories are still in the noodles themselves, so skipping the broth is simply a “less bad” option — not a complete transformation into a diet-friendly food. Still, it’s a practical way to make a small improvement.

Son Hye-kyo / Captured from Instagram

Be mindful of blood sugar surge from carbs

Instant noodles are made of refined carbohydrates, which can quickly spike blood sugar levels. This triggers a surge in insulin, causing excess energy to be stored as fat. This effect is even stronger when eaten on an empty stomach or late at night.

Repeated spikes may contribute not only to body fat gain but also to increased appetite, so avoiding the broth alone isn’t enough.

Add protein and vegetables

The key is how you combine it. Adding protein sources like boiled eggs, tofu or chicken breast increases satiety and helps slow blood sugar spikes. Including vegetables adds dietary fiber, which further slows carbohydrate absorption.

Instead of eating ramyeon on its own, complementing it with these additions makes it less taxing on the body.

Daytime is better than late night

When you eat ramyeon also affects weight management. Eating it during the day — when you’re more active — is better for burning calories than eating it at night.

It’s also important not to eat it too frequently. To minimize weight gain, treat ramyeon as an occasional indulgence rather than a regular meal replacement.

You don’t have to give up ramyeon entirely, but how you eat it (less broth, added protein and veggies, better timing) can make a meaningful difference.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.