South Korean exports of instant noodles to Japan plunged 23.5 percent in 2014 from the previous year, data showed Sunday, amid growing anti-South Korean sentiment in the neighboring country.

Shipments of South Korea's ramyeon, or instant noodles, came to $24.47 million last year, compared with $32 million the previous year, according to the data by the state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. and industry sources.

The volume of exports also nose-dived 26 percent to 5,534 tons last year from 7,474 tons a year earlier.

Shipments of instant noodles had been on the decline since peaking at 11,405 tons worth $52.78 million in 2011.

The United States thus emerged as the largest importer of South Korean instant noodles, bringing in 7,135 tons valued at $26.11 million, the data showed.

Industry watchers attributed the tumble in ramyeon exports to Japan to escalating anti-Seoul sentiment in Tokyo following the inauguration of the conservative Shinzo Abe government in December 2012.

"Exports of ramyeon to Japan surged in the mid-2000s on the growing popularity of Korea pop culture, but shipments have recently been hit hard by the growing wave of anti-South Korean sentiment there," an industry source said.

Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have been icy in recent years due to Japan's stance on historical grievances and its territorial claims to Dokdo.

With shipments to Japan tumbling, South Korea's overall ramyeon exports dropped 0.6 percent on-year to 48,803 tons in 2015, with their value also falling 1.9 percent to $208.5 million, according to the data. It was the first on-year decline in both export volume and value. (Yonhap)