CU opens first ramyeon-themed convenience store at Air Force base

[Courtesy of BGF Retail Co.]

South Korea’s major convenience store brand CU has opened its third ramyeon-themed convenience store, located on the first floor of a building at the Air Force Education and Training Command in Geumsan-myeon, Jinju, North Gyeongsang Province.

Dubbed the “Ramyeon Library,” this store’s walls are lined with over 100 types of ramyeon, resembling a library filled with books, according to sources on Thursday.

Military personnel can enjoy tasting different ramyeon varieties at a cup noodle-shaped tasting table, where they can cook and sample ramyeon on the spot.

The launch of this specialized store marks CU’s expansion from general locations to military bases, continuing the success of its “Ramyeon Library” concept.

Named “CU Air Force Education Command Branch,” it is the first product-specialized convenience store to open at such a unique location.

The idea for this store originated from the Air Force, which proposed the concept to BGF Retail, the operator of CU, to provide soldiers with the opportunity to experience a new kind of convenience store.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, there are currently 253 civilian convenience stores operating within military bases in Korea: 5 at the Ministry of National Defense, 1 at Army base, 232 at Navy and Marine bases, and 15 at Air Force bases.

[Courtesy of BGF Retail Co.]

The CU Ramyeon Library at the Air Force Education Command, which opened on April 30, offers around 50 types of ramyeon, with the total exceeding 100 when including cup noodles.

The store is equipped with three instant ramyeon cooking machines, similar to those found at Han River Park in Seoul, where “Han River Ramyeon” gained popularity. These machines allow users to conveniently cook bagged ramyeon, addressing a common issue among soldiers who often had to cook ramyeon by pouring hot water directly into the bag due to lack of proper cooking facilities.

Since its opening, the store has garnered significant attention from Air Force personnel. Within the first 28 days, the store sold over 4,500 units of ramyeon, averaging about 160 units per day. Ramyeon sales constitute 10 percent of the store’s total revenue, which is more than three times higher than the average CU store.