Instant noodles under Korea’s major brands are growing more expensive, shedding a long-held image as an affordable staple that represented cheap, mass-produced meals for decades. The latest price increases are being driven largely by premium product lines. Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun Black, a spinoff of its flagship Shin Ramyun, is currently sold at convenience stores for 1,900 won ($1.40) per packet. When it was first released in 2011, the price was 1,600 won. The company also launched Shin Ramyun Gold on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of its founding. Priced at 1,500 won, the new product features a chicken-based broth. Samyang 1963, a revamped version of Samyang Foods’ original Samyang Ramen that returned to domestic shelves last November, is also priced at 1,900 won. The company upgraded the country’s first mass-produced instant noodle by using beef tallow to create a soup flavor closer to traditional beef broth. Paldo’s Sang Namja Ramen Garlic Spicy Flavor, a premium edition of its signature Namja Ramen, was released last month at 1,700 won per packet. Premium instant noodle