Prices at Rest Stops Soar on Chuseok Return Trip... Which Menu Items Have Risen by 25%?

Pork Cutlet Prices Lead Increase... Surpass 10,000 Won

As prices continue to rise sharply day by day, the prices of food at highway rest area convenience stores have also surged, according to a recent investigation. This has further deepened the financial burden on households during the Chuseok holiday.

Gapyeong=Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 14th, Min Hong-cheol, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, revealed data submitted by the Korea Expressway Corporation analyzing the average selling prices of the top 10 best-selling foods at highway rest areas in June over the past five years. The results showed that as of June 2024, the average selling price of the top 10 best-selling foods at highway rest areas increased by more than 17.2% (931 won) compared to the same month in 2019.

The food item with the highest price increase was "Donkatsu (pork cutlet)". The price of Donkatsu surged by 25.1%, from 8,517 won to 10,659 won. Donkatsu was the only item among the "Top 10 Rest Area Foods" to exceed an average price of 10,000 won. The second highest was "Udon," which rose 20.8% from 5,478 won to 6,620 won, followed by "Bibimbap," which increased 19.9% from 8,041 won to 9,645 won.

Considering that the consumer price index including dining-out prices was 116.36 as of July, up 17.2% from 99.31 in July 2020, the price increases of these three menu items stand out particularly.

Other items with notable price increases include ▲ Walnut pastry (hodugwaja) from 4,214 won to 4,974 won (18.0%↑) ▲ Gukbap (soup with rice) from 7,795 won to 9,186 won (17.8%↑) ▲ Americano coffee from 3,905 won to 4,514 won (15.6%↑) ▲ Hot dog from 3,605 won to 4,110 won (14.0%↑). Items with relatively smaller increases include ▲ Tteokkochi (rice cake skewers) from 3,509 won to 3,949 won (12.5%↑) ▲ Ramen from 4,429 won to 4,887 won (10.3%↑) ▲ Cafe latte from 4,619 won to 4,878 won (5.6%↑).

As dissatisfaction with rest area prices grows, the Korea Expressway Corporation has taken steps to manage food prices through "value meal products" and "budget snacks." Value meal products are sold at each rest area with two types of meals priced below 7,000 won, ramen below 4,000 won, and bottled water below 700 won. Budget snacks include more than 10 popular snacks such as walnut pastries and so-tteok so-tteok (skewered sausage and rice cake), all priced below 3,500 won. The corporation plans to strengthen on-site inspections and monitoring to ensure proper value food options are provided. Additionally, excellent rest areas will receive incentives based on operational service evaluations.

Assemblyman Min Hong-cheol stated, "It is a reality that even the food people enjoy on their way home for the upcoming holiday has become a financial burden," and emphasized, "The government must implement practical economic policies that can alleviate the pain and burden of the people in this era of high inflation and high interest rates."