Office Workers Turning to Salads... Even 7,000 Won Kimbap Feels Expensive

Changing Lunch Scenes Amid Soaring Prices
"Korean Food Always Over 10,000 Won"
Over 20 People Line Up for 6,000 Won Salad
Delivery Menus Reduced in Variety and Orders

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Recently, the lunchtime scene for office workers in their 20s and 30s is changing. As soaring prices make it increasingly difficult to afford meal expenses, they are turning to salad and snack shops.

On the 9th, during lunchtime, about 20 office workers were lined up in front of a salad shop located in Seocho-dong, Gangnam-gu. Lee Hyunsoo (37, pseudonym), who works at a nearby company, said, "In the Gangnam area, even kimbap costs around 7,000 won," adding, "I am looking for relatively cheaper options like naengmyeon or tteokbokki." Kim Heeun (35, pseudonym) eats salad for lunch three times a week. She said, "Korean meals always cost over 10,000 won," and "If you don't add extra toppings, you can have a salad for as low as 6,000 won."

The lunchtime scene for office workers in their 20s and 30s is changing. Feeling that they can no longer afford meal expenses due to soaring prices, they are turning to salad and snack shops. On social networking services (SNS), there is also an increase in ‘proof shots’ of people eating convenience store lunch boxes and kimbap, which are simple meals.

Among office workers in their 20s and 30s, many are especially trying to save on lunch costs. Jang Hyeeun (33, pseudonym), who works in Seocho-dong, mainly opts for a sandwich and Americano set menu for lunch. She said, "If I eat out for both lunch and dinner, the expenses are at least 40,000 to 50,000 won, so I try to keep lunch relatively simple."

The lunch delivery menu at workplaces has also changed. Lee Suji (34, pseudonym), who works at a delivery platform company, said, "It’s too crowded outside, and the rising prices are unbearable, so close colleagues sometimes order lunch boxes together." They do not forget to leave reviews after purchase to save about 20,000 to 30,000 won on meal expenses. Jeong Bora (31, pseudonym), who works at a financial company, said, "Before prices rose, I always ordered at least one cooked dish, but as I try to keep within a budget, the number of dishes ordered has decreased." As simple meals increase among people in their 20s and 30s, last month, lunch box sales at convenience stores GS25 and CU increased by more than 40%.