Trends

Gambas Jjapaghetti Hits Emart Oct 27, Captain Q Rum Returns After 11 Years: October's New Items (2026)

AI-generated image of a bowl of dark noodles topped with shrimp and fried garlic chips on a kitchen table, with an unlabeled green bottle and a glass. A thin white line traces the bowl next to a handwritten note reading 'Two new picks'.

AT A GLANCE

Gambas Jjapaghetti
Nongshim; Emart first on Oct 27, other retailers to follow
Origin
Winning recipe (1st of 250 entries) from the 2025 Jjapaghetti cook-off
Captain Q
Lotte Chilsung; announced Oct 8; 360ml, 35% ABV, Caribbean rum
Captain Q price
Expected 9,900 won single bottle at convenience stores; set expected 19,800 won (per reports)
Note
Captain Q is alcohol; buyers must be 19 or older

Two October launches stand out. Nongshim’s Gambas Jjapaghetti goes on sale at Emart on October 27, and Lotte Chilsung’s Captain Q rum is back 11 years after it was discontinued in 2015. Here are the launch details, what’s in each, prices and what to check. Checked on: 2026-10-14

The hero image is AI-generated and is not a photo of the real products.

Gambas Jjapaghetti: a fan recipe becomes a noodle pack

Nongshim’s Jjapaghetti cook-off last year drew 250 entries, and the winning recipe is now a product. It adds the flavor of gambas, the Spanish dish of shrimp cooked in olive oil and garlic, to Jjapaghetti, a black bean instant noodle.

  • Noodles: the thick Jjapaghetti noodles stay the same.
  • Extras in the pack: shrimp-flavored balls, olive-flavored flakes and fried garlic.
  • Launch: Emart first on October 27, with other channels added gradually.

Other retailers aren’t announced yet. Check Nongshim’s notice around launch day.

Captain Q: back after 11 years

Captain Q is a Korean rum-style spirit first sold in 1980. Production stopped in 2015, and Lotte Chilsung Beverage announced the relaunch on October 8.

ItemDetail
Size and strength360ml, 35% ABV
SpiritCaribbean rum, aged in bourbon casks then finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
DesignKeeps the green bottle and familiar label look
Price (expected)9,900 won per bottle at convenience stores; may vary by channel and promotion

The limited “Treasure Box” holds two 360ml bottles, a stainless steel glass and a commemorative coin. It is limited to 12,000 sets at an expected 19,800 won, and 1,980 sets (for the 1980 launch year) include a pure silver 1.5-don coin picked at random. It will roll out to supermarkets and convenience stores.

Why Jjapaghetti has such a strong recipe culture

According to Asia Times Korea, Jjapaghetti is a brand where consumers actively cook it their own way and invent recipes. It gained popularity through consumer combinations such as Jjapaguri (Jjapaghetti plus Neoguri) and Jjagyechi (Jjapaghetti plus egg and cheese). According to a NewN AI analysis, Jjapaghetti had about 134,000 online mentions last year, the most among Korean ramyun brands, compared with about 105,000 for Shin Ramyun.

A Nongshim representative said it was developed so consumers can enjoy the winning recipe without preparing extra ingredients or cooking anything complicated.

What was Captain Q?

According to Hankyung, Captain Q first appeared in 1980 and sold more than 10 million bottles in its first year alone. In 1985 it added a 180ml pocket size for outdoor use and is credited with helping open the era of popular whisky-style spirits. After production stopped in 2015, it was often mentioned on TV and social media as a symbol of nostalgia.

Lotte Chilsung said it is aiming at the neo-retro boom and young consumers looking for reasonably priced spirits. Keeping the bottle and label design is meant to bring nostalgia to older generations and a retro feel to people in their 20s and 30s. According to the report, it was due to reach major retail channels in stages from the middle of the following week.

What the two have in common

  • Consumer ideas into products: brands turning a fan’s recipe into a real item.
  • Neo-retro: old brands coming back with a modern feel.

Before you buy

  • Captain Q is a 35% spirit. Buyers must be 19 or older in Korea, and don’t drive after drinking.
  • Limited sets may sell out quickly. Avoid marked-up resale.
  • Check official notices near launch for Gambas Jjapaghetti’s price and retailers.

For more new items, see Nongshim’s Neoguring launch and 5 things trending in Korea in September.

Sources (checked on 2026-10-14)