Controversy Over the Quality of Popular 'Cheonwonppang' Amid High Inflation
A post complaining about the quality of the so-called '1000-won bakery,' which sells bread at low prices to citizens inside subway stations, has been uploaded. However, netizens criticized the post, saying it disregards the purpose of providing affordable snacks.
Recently, an online community post titled "The 1000-won breads sold at subway stations seem to be cheap for a reason" attracted the attention of netizens.
The author, Mr. A, said, "I had seen it a few times while passing by, but today (when I left home) I hadn't eaten breakfast, and I happened to be hungry, so I picked one castella and one soboro bread. They really were 1000 won each," adding, "Since I usually buy bread only from places like Paris Baguette or Tous Les Jours, the price made me wonder if this was really Korea."
However, Mr. A pointed out, "About 40 minutes after eating, I felt bloated and kept having a bad feeling," and said, "I'm usually sensitive to food, so even at restaurants, I can tell if MSG (monosodium glutamate) is used or not. When it is used, there is an aftertaste." He then added, "I won't buy 1000-won bread anymore," and evaluated, "There is a reason why Paris Baguette is expensive."
However, netizens who read the post responded with opposing opinions. Comments such as "This is why Korean food is getting expensive these days," "What did you expect eating 1000-won bread," "This bread is originally sold with a low margin but high volume," and "Did you get a stomachache because you ate two flour breads from the morning?" continued.
Meanwhile, the 1000-won bakery refers to bakeries recently found near several subway stations. They receive mass-produced bread products from factories and sell them with a low margin but high volume. The actual bread prices are known to be between 1000 and 1500 won.
As high prices continue, the popularity of the 1000-won bakery is steadily increasing. It is reported that not only office workers and university students who skip breakfast but also ordinary households and elderly people frequently visit.
However, some suspect that the product prices might be lowered by using cheap ingredients. In response, a manufacturer of 1000-won bread sold in Seoul subway stations explained in an interview with the Seoul Shinmun, "While it is not significantly better than other breads, the taste and quality do not fall short compared to the price," and clarified, "Using margarine does not mean it is cheap; margarine is better than butter, which is of lower quality."
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