Don't Be Surprised by the Prices of Tteokkochi and Hodugwaja on the Way Home... Rest Area Prices Also Soaring

Tteokkochi 3,548 KRW last year → 4,008 KRW 13%↑
Americano 3,900 KRW → 4,412 KRW 12.9%↑

Photo by Asia Economy

As prices continue to rise sharply day by day, it has been found that food prices at highway rest areas have also surged recently.

According to data submitted by Korea Expressway Corporation to Min Hong-cheol, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, as of July 2022, the prices of 5 out of the top 10 best-selling foods at highway rest areas increased by more than 10% compared to the same month the previous year.

The highway rest area food with the highest price increase compared to the same month last year was "Tteok-kkochi" (rice cake skewers), which rose from 3,548 won to 4,009 won, a sharp increase of 13.0%.

The second highest was "Americano," which increased from 3,907 won to 4,412 won, up 12.9%, and the third was "Hodu-gwaja" (walnut pastry), which rose from 4,414 won to 4,933 won, up 11.8%.

Other items showed the following increases: ▲Ramen 4,440 won → 4,920 won (10.8%↑), ▲Hot dog 3,802 won → 4,189 won (10.2%↑), ▲Pork cutlet 8,941 won → 9,612 won (7.5%↑), ▲Udon 5,890 won → 6,285 won (6.7%↑), ▲Bibimbap 8,425 won → 8,879 won (5.4%↑), ▲Gukbap (soup with rice) 8,199 won → 8,615 won (5.1%↑), ▲Cafe latte 4,772 won → 4,797 won (0.5%↑).

Source: Office of Assemblyman Min Hong-cheol

Prices have been steadily rising, but this year the increase has been particularly notable.

An analysis of the average total sales prices of the top 10 best-selling foods at highway rest areas in July over the past three years shows that in 2020, the average was 5,504 won, up 1.4% (78 won) from the previous year. In 2021, the average was 5,634 won, an increase of 2.4% (130 won) compared to the previous year.

However, this year, the average rose to 6,065 won, up 7.7% (431 won) from the previous year. This is more than five times the 1.4% increase seen in 2020.

Assemblyman Min Hong-cheol said, "The impact of soaring prices day after day is also reflected in the food prices on the way home," adding, "The government needs to prepare measures to stabilize the burden on the people's economy caused by high inflation as soon as possible."