@article{ART003351523},
author={Ko Hoon},
title={Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex},
journal={International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구},
issn={2951-2808},
year={2026},
volume={9},
number={9},
pages={97-118}
TY - JOUR
AU - Ko Hoon
TI - Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex
JO - International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구
PY - 2026
VL - 9
IS - 9
PB - K-culture Convergence Research Society
SP - 97
EP - 118
SN - 2951-2808
AB - (1) Objectives: This study analyzes Wonju’s strategy to develop itself as a global ramen city, focusing on the Usan General Industrial Complex and the proposed K-food complex cultural space, Wonju Wonder Plate. It examines the ramen city project not merely as food tourism, but as an urban branding strategy that connects industrial heritage, corporate branding, industrial complex regeneration, youth entrepreneurship, and global K-food tourism.
(2) Methods: This study reviews Wonju City’s ramen-related urban strategy, including Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, Wonju Ramen Festa, the K-Spicy Taste Festival, media façades, and cultural tourism programs. Based on this review, it analyzes how ramen-related resources can be organized into archival exhibitions, production-line tours, participatory experiences, pop-up stores, creative labs, night tourism, and local commercial district revitalization.
(3) Conclusions: Wonju’s ramen city strategy has the potential to transform the Usan Industrial Complex from a production-centered industrial zone into a symbolic K-food landmark. For this strategy to be sustainable, it should move beyond the construction of physical facilities and establish an integrated cultural platform that combines a ramen history archive, industrial tourism, citizen participation, youth entrepreneurship, local commerce, and global K-food fandom. In this sense, Wonju can position ramen not simply as a food product, but as a cultural medium through which local industry, urban identity, and global K-Culture are connected.
KW - Wonju;ramen city;Wonju Wonder Plate;Samyang Buldak-ro;K-food;industrial tourism;Usan Industrial Complex;industrial complex regeneration.
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Ko Hoon. (2026). Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex. International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구, 9(9), 97-118.
Ko Hoon. 2026, "Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex", International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구, vol.9, no.9 pp.97-118.
Ko Hoon "Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex" International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구 9.9 pp.97-118 (2026) : 97.
Ko Hoon. Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex. 2026; 9(9), 97-118.
Ko Hoon. "Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex" International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구 9, no.9 (2026) : 97-118.
Ko Hoon. Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex. International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구, 9(9), 97-118.
Ko Hoon. Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex. International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구. 2026; 9(9) 97-118.
Ko Hoon. Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex. 2026; 9(9), 97-118.
Ko Hoon. "Branding “Ramen City Wonju” as a K-Food Industrial Tourism City: Focusing on Wonju Wonder Plate, Samyang Buldak-ro, the Ramen Festa, and the Cultural Hub Development of Usan Industrial Complex" International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구 9, no.9 (2026) : 97-118.
