Explosive Hit: Hansung Jjapaghetti Sells Out Overnight
Yoo Harin couldn't believe it. Normally, a kid Seoyeon's age would be throwing a tantrum in an unfamiliar environment, bawling their eyes out.
Oh my god... A sudden wave of pity washed over her. How harsh must life in a chaebol family be for a child this young to be so mature?
Yoo Harin had been born into poverty. She'd thrown herself into the cutthroat entertainment industry at a young age, with no one to catch her when she fell. She'd gritted her teeth and powered through the hardships alone.
Then, unexpectedly, a benefactor had appeared to help her through those tough times.
Why does looking at Seoyeon remind me of that benefactor? Now that she thought about it, they seemed strangely similar.
That benefactor had been thriving in the industry before suddenly announcing her retirement. Fans who adored her were shocked, and the media spewed endless speculation—from illness to scandals and even marriage rumors with a chaebol family. Baseless gossip piled up, but the woman herself never offered any explanation.
"You okay? On my first shoot, I felt queasy, like I was gonna puke. Cameras shoved in your face from every direction, and suddenly I had nausea I'd never felt before."
The girl named Han Seoyeon seemed pretty tense. But despite her appearance, her voice was steady and calm.
"I'm fine. Actually, I'm excited."
"Ex-excited?"
"Yeah. This ad will decide if my dad gets kicked out of the house or stands tall."
"R-really? Chaebol families must all be that strict, huh..."
Honestly, to her, it sounded like a fairy tale from another country.
Yoo Harin stared blankly at the black noodles in front of her. It was the product from Hansung Food for this ad shoot. It looked like jajangmyeon but somehow different.
"What's this?"
"Oh, it's black bean ramen. Called Hansung Jjapaghetti."
"Hansung Jjapaghetti?"
"Wanna try some?"
"Sh-sure?"
She picked up her chopsticks and cautiously slipped one noodle into her mouth.
"...!"
Her eyes widened in an instant. At first glance, it looked like regular wheat noodles, but the texture was chewy yet tender, far superior. A subtle wheat aroma bloomed, and the noodle itself bounced with a satisfying snap. The aftertaste was sweet and savory, with the smooth flavor of chunjang spreading gently.
"Oh my? Is this really ramen?"
She'd tried ramen before. The spicy one from Korea's most famous S Company, but it hadn't suited her taste at all. She couldn't understand why people ate it. But Hansung Jjapaghetti was different. This was a smash hit. No—a super smash hit.
"What do you think? Tasty, right?"
"Y-yeah. Why is it so good?"
"Hehe, food's basically a big ball of MSG anyway."
"Huh? What's MSG?"
"Hehe~ It's a thing. Oh! The director uncle over there is looking at us and saying something!"
"Huh?"
Was this a natural scene? A doll-like little girl and Korea's most famous actress chatting casually—it was all captured raw on camera.
Just then, Director Kim Wooyoung thrust his thumb high in approval.
"Cut! Perfect! Let's do one more take just like that!"
On Sundays, I'm the Hansung Jjapaghetti chef!
Han Seongcheol watched the ad with a satisfied smile. His granddaughter on screen looked like a white angel with a pair of wings.
"Hahaha, whoever directed it did a great job."
"Yes. Director Kim Wooyoung said he put his heart into it and to pass that on to you, Chairman."
Woo Shijang carefully removed the tape from the rewinding player. He packaged it meticulously, without a single scratch.
Han Seongcheol took the tape from Woo Shijang.
"This is the tape of my granddaughter's first ad shoot, eh?"
He handled it like a treasure, storing it away with the firm resolve to keep it forever.
"Alright. The ad's done safely, and now it's time to show the world Hansung Food stretching its legs."
"I believe this Hansung Jjapaghetti will become Hansung Food's flagship product in the future."
Woo Shijang echoed the conviction. Hansung Jjapaghetti boasted a flavor level beyond any ramen on the market—it was too good to dismiss as "just ramen." And it was even cheaper than existing products. There was no reason it wouldn't sell.
Han Seongcheol let out a low chuckle.
"Just thinking of that old fool still makes my blood boil. 'Hansung Food is done for,' he says. 'Quit the hobby and stick to laying steel plates like Hansung does best.'"
A sneer curled his lips. This Hansung Jjapaghetti would shake the whole Republic of Korea.
"He called ramen a playground for young companies. Told this old lion not to waste time and stick to what he knows."
Woo Shijang bowed his head, not daring to chime in.
Han Seongcheol rose slowly and walked to the window.
"I'll admit it. Hansung has fallen behind, that's true. But..."
A pause hung in the air.
"As the old saying goes, you don't know if it's long or short till you try. Hansung hasn't given up yet."
Jinsu dragged his exhausted body home after a grueling day at the office. His shoulders felt like boulders, and his tie choked him like a noose.
"Maybe some hot ramen before bed?"
Conveniently, there was a supermarket nearby that he frequented.
"Ajumma!"
"Oh... Jinsu, you're here?"
A middle-aged woman sweeping the store vigorously greeted him warmly.
"Got any ramen?"
"Ramen? You mean Sammi Ramen?"
"Yeah. Five packs, please."
"Here ya go. Don't eat just ramen all the time."
"Sure thing~"
As he paid and turned to leave, a unfamiliar bag caught his eye.
Hansung Jjapaghetti? What's that?
It was all over TV lately, but Jinsu, who came home late from work, showered, and crashed, was seeing it for the first time.
"Ajumma, what's this? Hansung Jjapaghetti?"
"Oh? You don't know? It's selling like hotcakes right now."
"This is ramen? Looks like jajangmyeon..."
"Try it. I cooked some a few times—it's insane."
"Really? Gimme one then."
Already hooked on Sammi's taste, Jinsu figured he'd give it a shot and bought one extra.
"La la la~"
Back home, Jinsu prepped a stainless pot for ramen. He pulled out the Sammi pack from the supermarket bag.
"Hmm, wait. Maybe try the Hansung one tonight?"
He was curious. The ajumma had a reputation in the neighborhood for never bullshitting.
"Let's see... cooking instructions... Huh? Drain the water midway? That's wasteful..."
To him, the best part of ramen was mixing leftover spicy broth with cold rice and kimchi after eating the noodles.
But Hansung Jjapaghetti explicitly said to drain after boiling the noodles.
Ajumma recommended it, so it'll be good...
Jinsu boiled the noodles in the pot, drained the water when ready, sprinkled the black powder soup evenly, and squeezed in olive seasoning oil with gusto.
Ooh? Smells amazing. Better than the local jajangmyeon joint, even...
He didn't know it was MSG's power yet.
He carried the hot pot to the table and grabbed some ojingeo from the fridge—sent from his parents' place. His secret weapon for ramen.
"Late-night snack prep complete!"
Humming, Jinsu took a big bite with chopsticks.
"Gasp!"
He was stunned. A deep, sticky flavor unlike Sammi seized his tongue. Sweet-salty chunjang filled his mouth, followed by a rich, nutty oil aroma clinging to the chewy noodles, ravaging his taste buds.
"Whoaaa!"
Not even finished, Jinsu threw on his coat, flung open the door, and bolted down the stairs.
His destination: the supermarket where he'd just bought the Hansung Jjapaghetti.
"Aaaajummmaaaa!"
"Eek! You scared me—thought it was a ghost. Yelling like that at night'll wake the whole neighborhood!"
"Sorry! No, I mean—what is this?"
Jinsu pointed at the empty bag labeled Hansung Jjapaghetti.
"What else? Hansung Jjapaghetti."
"I mean, got any more?"
"Huh? Sold out. Check the ramen shelf just in case."
Jinsu rushed to the shelf without waiting.
"Wh-what?"
There had been a few left earlier—now sold out.
"Aaaajummmaaaa!"
"Wh-what?!"
"When's the next stock?"
"Hansung Jjapaghetti? Tomorrow."
Jinsu clutched his forehead, deflating. Tomorrow was a big company dinner—he'd be late, and the shelf would be empty again.
"Can I reserve some?"
"R-reserve?"
"Yeah. I'll buy five tomorrow for sure—set them aside."
"Well..."
"Ajuuummaaa, pretty pleeease!"
As the customer half her son's age wheedled, the ajumma finally surrendered.
"Fine. I'll set some aside. But keep it secret from the neighbors? It's selling that well..."
"In return, I'll shop only here."
"Deal then..."
They hooked pinkies and clapped palms.
"A man's word?"
"Worth a thousand gold!"
Jinsu grinned broadly at the ajumma.
Oh my god... This shattered my expectations—an all-time record sales explosion.
Grandpa couldn't hide his delighted smile every day seeing Hansung Jjapaghetti fly off the shelves.
"Hahaha, kehahaha!"
Finally, he planted his lips on my cheeks, showering me with dozens of kisses again today.
"My granddaughter! Wonder who she takes after to be so clever and bright. Huh?"
He cupped my cheeks with both hands, gushing nonstop.
"You're this old man's lucky charm. Lucky charm! Kehahaha!"
I sighed inwardly.
Hansung Jjapaghetti was just the beginning for me. The other ramens I planned to launch would hit just as big—or bigger.
By then, Grandpa might grab the back of his neck in overwhelming joy. I worried already.
"Right. If my Seoyeon calls me over, there's gotta be another reason."
"Yeah. I have one request. You'll hear me out, right?"
"Hahaha, for my Seoyeon's request, this old man would pluck stars from the sky."
Tch! That's impossible!
I took a deep breath and faced Grandpa.
"Grandpa."
"Yes? What is it? Want something?"
"No. There's an old saying: 'Row when the water's rising.'"
"True. But why?"
"To sell more Hansung Jjapaghetti."
"A distribution channel that can sell more Hansung Jjapaghetti?"
"Yes."
In this country, one group was ramen-mad. Every dawn, they gathered with buddies around steaming bowls.
"Grandpa, what do you think about selling ramen to the soldiers?"