Dasi Yeon Eulji Myeonok 'Pyeongyang Naengmyeon' 15,000 Won... Hururuk Price Increase at Popular Restaurants

Jinju Hoegwan and Myeongdong Gyoja Raise Prices for 2nd Year
'Noodleflation' Ahead of Summer

Famous cold noodle and noodle soup restaurants in Seoul are raising their food prices one after another, citing increases in ingredient and labor costs. Ahead of summer, when dishes like Kongguksu and Naengmyeon are popular, a "noodle playlation" has swept through.

On the 23rd, citizens lined up to dine at Eulji Myeonok in Jongno-gu, Seoul, which reopened for business after two years.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd of last month, Eulji Myeonok reopened in Nakwon-dong, Seoul, after two years. It started business in 1985 in the Euljiro Sewoon District and ended 37 years of operation in late June 2022 due to redevelopment of the Sewoon District. The newly made menu fully reflects the price increases over the past two years. The price of Pyongyang Naengmyeon rose from 13,000 won to 15,000 won, boiled pork slices (Suyuk) from 30,000 won to 35,000 won, and sliced boiled pork (Pyeonyuk) from 28,000 won to 30,000 won.

Prices at competing businesses show a similar trend. Pildong Myeonok raised its Naengmyeon price to 13,000 won in 2022 and increased it again to 14,000 won last year, while Bongpiyang also raised its price from 15,000 won to 16,000 won.

The price increase of Naengmyeon, a commonly enjoyed light meal, has even led to the term "noodle playlation." Naengmyeon has actually shown a significant price increase among major dining-out items. According to the Korea Consumer Agency's comprehensive price information portal, Chamgagaek, Naengmyeon prices rose 7.2% compared to a year ago, averaging 11,462 won per bowl.

Jinju Hoegwan Exterior View

Other noodle dishes have not been able to avoid price hikes either. Jinju Hoegwan, famous for Kongguksu, raised its price by 1,000 won in March from 15,000 won to 16,000 won. It had raised prices by 2,000 won last year, and within less than a year, increased by another 1,000 won. Myeongdong Kyoja also marked the start of the "10,000 won Kalguksu era" in 2022 and raised prices again to 11,000 won at the end of last year.

Jjajangmyeon, a representative dish of affordable food, has also surpassed 7,000 won per bowl. This is about a 4% increase compared to the same period last year. The price of Jjajangmyeon exceeded 5,000 won in 2020 and rose to the 6,000 won range in April 2022.