Highway Rest Areas: Consumer Complaints Rise Over Varying Fish Cake Skewer Prices and Quantities

"Rest Areas Earn Hundreds of Millions During Holidays...
Food Prices Rise, Snack Prices Vary Widely"
Major Menu Prices Up Over 20% in the Past 5 Years,
Pork Cutlet Surpasses 10,000 Won

Hwang Unha, Member of the National Assembly of the Party for National Innovation (Proportional Representation)

During major holidays such as Chuseok and Lunar New Year, countless travelers return to their hometowns, making highway rest areas across the country an essential stop. While sales at these rest areas reach several hundred billion won, there are growing concerns that food prices continue to rise, and snack prices and quantities vary from one rest area to another, which many argue is unreasonable.

According to an analysis of data submitted by Korea Expressway Corporation and reviewed by Hwang Unha, Member of the National Assembly of the Party for National Innovation (Proportional Representation), the top five highway rest areas by sales during the 2024 Chuseok holiday period (five days) were: Haengdamdo Rest Area (1.346 billion won), Deokpyeong Rest Area (1.013 billion won), Siheung Sky Rest Area (730 million won), Pyeongtaek Rest Area (697 million won), and Jinyeong (Busan) Rest Area (588 million won).

During the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday period (six days), the top performers were: Deokpyeong Rest Area (970 million won), Haengdamdo Rest Area (901 million won), Cheoin Rest Area (732 million won), Siheung Sky Rest Area (716 million won), and Jinyeong (Busan) Rest Area (604 million won).

While rest area sales have reached such substantial figures, food prices have also continued to climb. Data from Korea Expressway Corporation shows that the prices of major menu items at rest areas have increased by more than 20% on average since 2019. For example: Udon dishes rose from 5,315 won in 2019 to 6,619 won in 2024 (a 24.5% increase); pork cutlet dishes increased from 8,666 won in 2019 to 10,766 won in 2024 (a 24.2% increase, surpassing 10,000 won); and walnut pastries went from 4,014 won in 2019 to 4,823 won in 2024 (a 20.2% increase).

Compared to the 15.2% rise in the consumer price index between 2019 and 2025, the rate of increase in rest area food prices has clearly outpaced general inflation.

The issue is further compounded by the lack of consistency in prices and quantities for the same items across different rest areas, even as food prices rise. Fish cake skewers are a representative example: Deokpyeong Rest Area sells two skewers for 4,500 won, Haengdamdo Rest Area sells one skewer for 2,500 won, Pyeongchang Rest Area offers two skewers for 4,000 won, and Majang Rest Area provides three skewers for 4,000 won. Despite being the same item, there are significant differences in both price and quantity, meaning customers receive entirely different value depending on where they make their purchase.

Assemblyman Hwang Unha stated, "Rest areas are not just places for vehicles to take a break; they are social spaces that directly reflect the cost of living for ordinary people. While sales reach several hundred billion won, it is unreasonable that food prices keep rising and that snack prices and quantities differ so widely from one rest area to another."

He further emphasized, "Korea Expressway Corporation must fulfill its public responsibility by presenting appropriate price guidelines that meet public expectations and by overseeing and managing these standards."