How Much Is Chicken Now?... Samgyetang Prices Shock Diners

Naengmyeon and Samgyetang Prices Continue to Rise
Even Higher at Famous Restaurants

Samgyetang is being served to customers at a famous samgyetang restaurant in Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Prices for five popular summer dishes, including naengmyeon and samgyetang, continued to rise last month. The average price has already surpassed the 10,000 won mark, and samgyetang is now approaching 20,000 won.

According to 'ChamkaGyeok', the comprehensive price information portal of the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of naengmyeon in Seoul rose by 154 won from 12,269 won in June to 12,423 won in July. Similarly, the average price of samgyetang increased by 269 won, from 17,654 won to 17,923 won during the same period.

The average price of naengmyeon surpassed 10,000 won in April 2022, reached 11,000 won in June 2023, and exceeded 12,000 won in December last year, showing a steady upward trend. The average price of samgyetang also rose from 14,000 won in June 2017 to 15,000 won in July 2022, 16,000 won in January 2023, and surpassed 17,000 won in July last year.

These are the average prices at restaurants in Seoul, but prices are much higher at famous eateries. Well-known naengmyeon restaurants such as Eulmildaeg, Wooraiok, Bongpiyang, and Pyeonggaok have set the price of a bowl of naengmyeon at 16,000 won, while Eulji Myeonok and Pildong Myeonok are selling it for 15,000 won. Some Pyongyang naengmyeon specialty restaurants even charge between 17,000 and 18,000 won.

At samgyetang specialty restaurants such as Tosokchon, Goryeo Samgyetang, and Nonhyeon Samgyetang, the basic menu is priced at 20,000 won, and dishes with special toppings or ingredients are even more expensive.

Other dining-out items also saw slight increases. The price of samgyeopsal (one serving, 200g) rose by 192 won in a month to 20,639 won, bibimbap increased by 76 won to 11,538 won, and kimchi jjigae baekban went up by 77 won to 8,577 won. On the other hand, the prices of gimbap (3,623 won), jajangmyeon (7,500 won), and kalguksu (9,692 won) remained unchanged from the previous month.