Indonesia’s largest ramen manufacturer, Indomie, is facing a trademark controversy over its newly released “Korean Ramyeon” series.
On October 31, Indomie appointed popular group NewJeans as brand ambassadors and launched three varieties in the “Korean Ramyeon” series.
Indomie prominently features the term “Korean Ramyeon” in Korean on the packaging and uses the Korean pronunciation, "Ramyeon," instead of the Japanese "Ramen" in English. The advertisement featuring NewJeans garnered close to a million views within a day, creating a buzz. In the ad, NewJeans members capture local consumers’ attention with the Korean line, “It’s so delicious, Indomie.”
Singaporean media outlet CNA analyzed that Indomie’s strategy aims beyond just the Indonesian market, targeting global expansion. Indomie already exports its popular product, “Mie Goreng,” to 100 countries worldwide.
However, trademark concerns have also surfaced regarding this product. According to a report submitted to Korea’s National e-People petition system, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) responded on November 11, noting that the “Korean Ramyeon” sold locally could potentially mislead or confuse consumers into thinking it’s a Korean product. It’s currently unclear if the product has been trademarked with the Indonesian Intellectual Property Office.
KIPO stated that any sanctions would require further specialized review and would have to be based on Indonesian law.
In response, KIPO announced that it provides various support measures to protect Korean companies’ intellectual property rights, such as consultation and advice through the "K-Brand Dispute Support Program" and overseas intellectual property centers. They also expressed plans to discuss this issue with the Indonesian government to find a resolution.
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