[Report] "Getting Hotter and Food Prices Rising" High Inflation Amid Heatwave... Free Meal Centers Pushed to the Edge

Seoul's First Ever 'June Tropical Night'... Nationwide Heatwave Warnings Continue
"More Difficult on Humid Days," Users Express Concern
June Consumer Prices Rise 6.0%, First Since 1998 Financial Crisis
"Rising Food Costs Lead to Reduced Side Dishes," Free Meal Centers Voice Worries
Economic Hardship Due to COVID-19... Donations Also Decline

On the 6th at around 12:30 PM, elderly people were waiting in line to have a meal in front of the free meal service center at Wongaksa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jeongwan Kim kjw106@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] "It is hot, indeed. On humid days, it feels especially exhausting," "Waiting in line is tiring, but we have to eat with gratitude."

At around 12:30 PM on the 6th, a long line stretched in front of the free meal service center at Wongaksa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Amid the ongoing heatwave, Mr. Choi (80), who came to the free meal center to get a meal, was fanning himself repeatedly and wiping sweat. Mr. Choi sighed, saying, "It feels like it got hot unusually fast this year. I’m worried because it will probably get even hotter in the mornings from now on."

Mr. Kim (78), whom we met in front of the free meal center, said, "Still, it’s fortunate that we can eat indoors these days," adding, "During the peak of COVID-19, we had to take meals to go, but eating outside in the heat was really tough." He continued, "It’s hot and exhausting, but how can we complain? Just getting one meal is a task, so I’m mostly grateful."

For the first time in Seoul’s history, a 'tropical night in June' has appeared, and the hot weather is intensifying. As of the 6th, heatwave warnings were issued for most regions nationwide. The daytime temperature in Seoul rose to 32 degrees Celsius, with the perceived heat feeling even more severe. The sighs of elderly people visiting free meal centers grew heavier amid the humid weather, which alternates between heatwaves and monsoon rains.

On top of this, prices are rising daily, deepening the worries of the meal centers. The cost of ingredients has risen to an unbearable level. Kang So-yoon, the general manager of the Wongaksa free meal center, said, "We have been running this for 30 years, but these days, the rising prices are really tough," adding, "Normally, cucumbers cost about 13,000 won, but they have risen to 80,000 won and sometimes even over 100,000 won, so we can’t even serve cold soup during the hot days anymore." She added, "I went to the market earlier, and it was so expensive that it’s impossible to manage."

Elderly people are having meals at a free meal center. As the cost of food continues to rise daily, the variety of side dishes at the free meal center has also decreased. Photo by Jeongwan Kim kjw106@

The consumer price index in June recorded a 6.0% increase, the highest rise in 23 years and 7 months since November 1998 (6.8%) during the foreign exchange crisis. According to the 'June 2022 Consumer Price Trends' released by Statistics Korea on the 5th, the consumer price index in June was 108.22 (2020=100), up 6.0% compared to the same month last year. The consumer price inflation rate has been steadily rising since it reached the 3% range in October last year. It recorded 4% in March (4.1%) and April (4.8%) this year, 5% in May (5.4%), and rose to 6% in June.

Given this situation, the cost of food ingredients has also been rising daily, triggering red alerts for meal prices. Agricultural, livestock, and fishery products rose 4.8%, up from 4.2% the previous month, mainly driven by livestock products (10.3%) and vegetables (6.0%). In particular, pork (18.6%), imported beef (27.2%), napa cabbage (35.5%), and watermelon (22.2%) showed high rates of increase.

Due to the rising cost of ingredients, free meal centers that have maintained the number of side dishes for 30 years had no choice but to reduce them. General manager Kang said, "We usually prepared three side dishes, but the situation is so difficult that only two remain," adding, "The weather is getting hotter, and although we want to provide nutritious foods with protein like eggs, pork, or tofu, we can’t. We are feeling the impact of rising prices and the overall tough economy."

Elderly people lining up in front of the free meal service center for seniors at Wongaksa Temple in Tapgol Park, Jongno-gu, Seoul, preparing to have lunch on the 4th during the ongoing heatwave. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Free meal centers relying on private donations without government support, including the Wongaksa free meal center, have seen their situations worsen due to the aftermath of COVID-19. Donations have sharply decreased as the economy worsened. The Wongaksa free meal center tries to provide meat dishes such as pork about once a week, but with donations declining, even this has become difficult.

On days when donations come in occasionally, the volunteers’ spirits are lifted. A representative from the Wongaksa free meal center said, "On days like today when donations come in, we can provide meat or soy milk," adding, "The situation is so difficult that while we are grateful for days like this, we still worry about when the economic situation will stabilize."