'From 4,500 won to 7,400 won'... The Most Increased Dining Menu in 10 Years is Jjajangmyeon

Significant Increase Due to Rising Prices of Main Ingredients Like Green Onions and Cucumbers
Expected to Exceed 8,000 Won Next Year
Naengmyeon and Kalguksu Also See Price Hikes... Gimbap Rises the Least

The price of Jjajangmyeon, a representative dining-out menu, has risen by more than 60% over the past 10 years.

On the 30th, 'Chamgagyeok,' a comprehensive price information portal site operated by the Korea Consumer Agency, announced that as of December last year, the prices of seven dining-out menus in the Seoul area increased by an average of 40.2% compared to December 2014.

During this period, the menu with the largest increase was Jjajangmyeon, recording a rise of 65.0%. The price jumped from 4,500 won in 2014 to the 5,000 won range in 2019, and exceeded the 7,000 won mark in 2023, currently standing at 7,423 won. The relatively sharper increase in Jjajangmyeon prices is analyzed to be due to the rise in the prices of main ingredients. According to data from the National Statistical Portal of Statistics Korea, the consumer price index for green onions surged by 110% during the same period, while prices of agricultural products such as cucumbers rose by 100%, pumpkins by 70%, and onions by 60%, showing an overall high rate of increase.

Among processed food ingredients, salt rose by 80%, while sugar and cooking oil each increased by 50%. Soy sauce and flour showed increases of 40% and 30%, respectively. Pork prices also rose by 40%.

If this upward trend continues, the average price of Jjajangmyeon at general Chinese restaurants in the Seoul area is expected to reach the 8,000 won range next year.

Besides Jjajangmyeon, the dining-out item with the largest price increase was Naengmyeon, which rose 50% from 8,000 won to 12,000 won. Kimchi jjigae set meals increased by 44.4%, from 5,727 won to 8,269 won, and Kalguksu rose from 6,500 won to 9,385 won. Additionally, Bibimbap increased by 42.3%, from 7,864 won to 11,192 won, and Samgyeopsal (converted to 200g) rose by 39.5%, from 14,535 won to 20,282 won. The menu with the smallest increase was Gimbap, which rose by 9.4% to 3,500 won.