Son is from Russia. When he came home at 6 yo (speaking no English) we asked if he wanted pasta for dinner. He looked horrified. We later learned that "pasta" meant toothpaste. What we call pasta is "macaroni."
From that perspective, any kind of pasta can be used in mac & cheese.
I was never a big mac & cheese fan until I had some at a wedding reception in South Carolina. Holy crackers that was good. I have been chasing the dragon ever since.
Mac & cheese with gochujang sounds delicious.