Korean animation wins two Oscars as Shin Ramyun moment captures attention

At the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Chris Appelhans, who co-directed the Netflix animated series K-Pop Demon Hunters with Korean-American director Meqi Kang, drew attention for a surprising moment in the audience: eating Shin Ramyun from a bag with chopsticks.

The image shows Appelhans, in a tuxedo, picking up Shin Ramyun to eat during the ceremony. The photo circulated after his wife, writer Maren Goo, posted it on Instagram the following day.

Online reaction was swift and mixed. Some viewers questioned whether the shot was authentic or photoshopped, while others joked about the candid snack break at a prestigious event.

K-DeHun, the project co-directed by Appelhans and Kang, won two awards at the ceremony: Best Animated Feature and Original Song. The creators also indicated plans for a second season of the show.

Appelhans is scheduled to visit Korea soon and make media appearances there, according to the report.

Beyond Korea, the moment underscores the growing impact of Korean-created animation in global entertainment, with Netflix and other platforms increasingly featuring Korean talent in high-profile projects. For U.S. audiences, it highlights cross-border collaborations that can shape future distribution, talent pipelines, and investment in animated series and related media.

The incident also points to the broader reach of Korean brands in American culture. Shin Ramyun, a well-known Korean instant noodle, appearing at a major awards show, illustrates how Korean consumer products are embedded in global pop culture narratives and consumer markets.