Buldak’s success earns Samyang honorary street name in Wonju

The location of Samyang Buldak-ro, designated along Usan-ro in Wonju, Gangwon Province / Courtesy of Wonju City

The global success of spicy instant noodles is now reflected in a city map.

On Tuesday, the city of Wonju said it designated a section of Usan-ro in Usan-dong, where Samyang Foods’ local factory is located, as an honorary road named “Samyang Buldak-ro.”

The honorary name was assigned to a 1,963-meter stretch from Usan-ro 1 to Usan-ro 264. The distance was chosen to commemorate the year 1963, when South Korea’s first instant noodles, Samyang Ramen, were introduced.

“The designation is done to recognize Samyang Foods’ long-standing contributions to the local economy,” city officials said, citing its role in job creation and sustained regional investment.

It is the first honorary road name designated in Wonju. The title of Samyang Buldak-ro, however, does not replace the legal address, which will remain Usan-ro.

In South Korea, honorary road names are added to existing streets to commemorate individuals or historical events, or to support business activities and international exchange, without altering official addresses.

Samyang Buldak noodles / Courtesy of Samyang Foods

Established in 1989, Samyang Foods’ Wonju plant serves as a core production hub that manufactures noodles, snacks and sauces. Around 1,500 employees work across four Samyang affiliates in the city, including Samyang Foods, Samyang Flour Mills and Samyang Roundus.

Looking ahead, Samyang Foods plans to build a dedicated liquid sauce factory on its existing Usan-dong site by the first half of 2027, a move expected to create around 90 new jobs.

A city official said the honorary road name is intended to serve as “a positive opportunity for shared growth” between Wonju and Samyang Foods.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.