BTS member Jimin is once again proving his global power—not just in music, but in business too!
At the 16th Asian Leadership Conference held in Seoul on May 22, Jimin was brought up as a major reason why Buldak Bokkeum Myeon (Hot Chicken Stir-Fried Ramen) became a global success.
Park Myung Wan, CEO of Pick Entertainment, shared, “Back in 2020, the chairman of Samyang Foods went on a variety show and said thank you to BTS’s Jimin.”
Why the gratitude? Jimin once casually ate Buldak Ramen during a live broadcast—and that moment exploded across the internet. His natural and relatable image while enjoying the super-spicy noodles made fans fall in love with the ramen too.
The result? A massive boost in sales, a worldwide challenge, and even Samyang beating major competitors like Nongshim to become Korea’s No. 1 ramen brand.
Jimin’s influence didn’t stop there. In 2022, Samyang’s Vice Chairman Kim Jung Soo appeared on SBS’s The Dinner Table Talk and said, “Thanks to Jimin, we saw the biggest sales ever for Buldak Bokkeum Myeon. The ad effect was huge.”
Fans may remember the viral clip of Jimin tearing up while eating the spicy ramen—it sparked the “Buldak challenge,” which spread like wildfire. Big names like Cardi B (who even picked Jimin as her favorite BTS member!) joined in. From YouTubers to celebrities, everyone wanted a bite of what Jimin was eating.
Because of that, Buldak Ramen became known as the K-Ramen around the world. In fact, Samyang Foods hit a new record in the first quarter of 2025 with over 100 billion KRW (about $74 million USD) in operating profit—its best quarter ever. Korean and international outlets are calling this the “second golden era of K-Ramen,” all thanks to Jimin.
A Samyang official even said the company built a new factory in Miryang and sent Jimin a special gift, saying, “Thanks to Jimin, we even built a new factory.”
Jimin’s power doesn’t stop at ramen. Everything he touches turns into a trend—from tteokbokki and dumplings to coffee and citron tea.
He’s not only the first and only Korean solo artist to top both Billboard’s Hot 100 and Artist 100 at the same time, but he’s also a true K-Culture icon, even mentioned by Bloomberg for his influence.
With every bite, smile, or song, Jimin continues to make the world watch—and follow.
Source: [1]
