"Processed Foods, Vegetables, and Dining Out Prices... Increasing Burden on Ordinary People"

Bibimbap and Naengmyeon Over 10,000 Won... Jajangmyeon Approaching 7,000 Won

As the prices of processed foods and vegetables continue to rise, the cost of dining out is also soaring daily, increasing the burden on ordinary citizens.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency's Chamgag price data on the 11th, the average price of eight major dining-out items in the Seoul area last month rose by 10.4% compared to the same period last year. The prices of major dining-out items had also increased by 10.8% in January.

By item, jajangmyeon rose 16.5% from 5,769 won to 6,723 won, and samgyeopsal reached nearly 20,000 won at 19,236 won for 200g. Additionally, samgyetang also became more expensive at 16,115 won (11.1%), gimbap at 3,100 won (10.4%), and kalguksu at 8,731 won (9.7%). Bibimbap and naengmyeon each surpassed 10,000 won, rising 8.7% and 7.3% to 10,115 won and 10,692 won, respectively.

High-consumption processed foods are also continuing their upward trend. Last month, the average price of canned tuna (10g) rose 10.7% from 206 won the previous month to 228 won, and the average price of fish cake (100g) increased 7.2% from 1,124 won to 1,204 won.

Meanwhile, as the government has begun actively suppressing price hikes by the liquor and food industries, there have been successive cases of companies withdrawing their price increase plans or proactively announcing that they have no plans to raise prices. Pulmuone Saemmul canceled its plan to raise bottled water prices, and CJ CheilJedang also decided to cancel the planned price increase for gochujang and seasoning products sold at convenience stores. Hite Jinro officially confirmed that there will be no price increase for soju. OB Beer also stated that there will be no product price increase even after the liquor tax hike next month.