What Your Oppa Really Means When He Says, "Do You Want To Eat Ramyeon?"
He's got something on his mind, and it's not just slurping noodles
“Want to have ramyeon?”
If you’re in South Korea, you’d better know that this is an invitation for more than just ramyeon. It’s the South Korean equivalent of “Wanna Netflix and chill?” which has become the 21st century code for something more intimate than just sharing a simple meal.
It all started with the 2001 movie One Fine Spring Day. The heroine, Eun-soo (played by Lee Young-ae), was the first to say “Do you want to eat ramyeon?” to her love interest. Since then it’s become part of Korean modern dating culture. It’s literal slang is for “Do you want to sleep with me?” These days, the phrase “Ramyeon meokgo galrae?” is often delivered more as a joke, although it serves its purpose by enabling people to invite or initiate romance without having to muster the courage to be more explicit.
In K-drama, "Do you want ramyeon?" is a popular trope. Characters pop this question in front of the home before parting ways, and it frequently signals secret romantic feelings for the other person. We've seen quite a lot of references over the years. Some of our favorite scenes are in the gallery below:
Love and ramyeon
Love and ramyeon
One Fine Spring Day (2001)
The OG line was, "Do you want some ramen?" and this was delivered by Eun-soo to her man after he's driven her home. They sit awkwardly on her sofa before she goes to the tiny kitchen to open a packet of instant Shin Ramyun. Suddenly she turns around: "Do you want to sleep over?" she asks. And they both smile. And that is how it all began.
Photo Credit: tvN
Spring is Simple (2013)
One Fine Spring Day wss so iconic that it inspired several copycats, including this parody scene where characters Man-Seok Oh and Young-mi Ahn get really close over ramyeon.
Photo Credit: tvN
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018)
The trope became so well-established that in "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim," Vice President and Secretary Kim innocently enjoying bowls of ramyeon is considered a complete outrage by Kim Mi So's sister. The sister obviously did not think slurping noodles together could be innocent at all!
Photo Credit: tvN
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018)
But the clueless Lee Young Joon had to have the ramifications explained to him in this hilarious scene.
Photo Credit: tvN
Crash Landing On You (2020)
Our most recent favorite "ramyeon" scene occurred with Crash Landing On You's second lead couple. Gu Seung Joon tells the lovely Seo Dan that this is his first time to eat ramyeon with a woman. And then he warns her that "Want to eat ramyeon?" is not the done thing to do in South Korea.
Photo Credit: tvN
Crash Landing On You (2020)
If invited to ramyeon with another man, say no, he advises Seo Dan. Clearly, he doesn't want her getting romantic with someone else.
Photo Credit: tvN
Crash Landing On You (2020)
But why should I say no? says Seo Dan innocently. "I like it." The look on Seung Joon's face is priceless. Haha.
Photo Credit: tvN
So, do you want ramyeon?
Photo Credit: tvN
Now that you know the social implications of ramyeon, you'll be more careful about whom you issue an invitation to slurp noodles with. Did reading this make you hungry for ramyeon? Whip up some delicious instant ramyeon from our list. And if you just happen to really, really want to just sit down together over an actual, literal bowl of hot ramyeon, maybe you'd better meet up in a restaurant, just to avoid any misunderstanding.
