Scared to Even Go to Gimbap Cheonguk...With Dining Prices Rising the Most in 13 Years, Ordinary People Sigh Deeply

February Dining Out Prices Up 6.2% YoY... Prices Surge for Galbitang, Juk, Saengseonhoe, Hamburgers, Makgeolli, and More

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] Last month, dining-out prices recorded the largest increase in 13 years and 2 months. In particular, prices soared for menus commonly enjoyed by the working class, such as Galbitang, juk, hamburgers, Makgeolli, and pizza, increasing the dining-out burden for ordinary people.

According to the National Statistical Office's National Statistics Portal (KOSIS) on the 5th, the dining-out price index in February 2022 was 107.39, up 6.2% compared to the same month last year. This is the largest increase in 13 years and 2 months since December 2008 (6.4%).

Oh Woonseon, the Economic Trend Statistics Officer at the National Statistical Office, explained, "Last month, as petroleum products and dining-out services prices rose, the consumer price index maintained a 3% increase rate compared to the same month last year."

All 39 dining-out items tracked by the National Statistical Office saw price increases. Specifically, the price of Galbitang rose 11.4% compared to a year ago, showing the largest increase, followed by juk (10.8%), saengseonhoe (raw fish) (9.8%), hamburgers (9.3%), Makgeolli (8.7%), pizza (8.4%), and beef (8.2%).

In particular, prices of bunsikjip (snack bar) menus such as gimbap (8.2%), fried rice (7.9%), ramen (7.4%), tteokbokki (7.3%), and donkatsu (6.1%) also rose significantly, increasing the burden on ordinary people. Chinese food prices such as jajangmyeon (7.8%), jjamppong (7.6%), and tangsuyuk (5.8%) continued their upward trend.

Among the 39 dining-out items tracked by the National Statistical Office, only five items had a price increase lower than the overall consumer price increase rate (3.7%): cafeteria meal costs (3.6%), haemuljjim (steamed seafood) (2.4%), other beverages (2.1%), beer (1.6%), and soju (0.9%).

Rising food ingredient prices, labor costs, and increased demand appear to have driven up dining-out prices. Dining-out prices tend to be rigid downward once they rise, so the dining-out burden on ordinary people is expected to continue.

Due to the sharp rise in dining-out services and petroleum prices, the overall consumer price index in February recorded 105.30 (2020=100), up 3.7% from a year ago, maintaining a 3% increase rate for five consecutive months since October last year.

Meanwhile, the government has requested the industry to refrain from raising prices to calm the rapid rise in dining-out prices and has been publicly announcing the price fluctuation rates of 12 major dining-out items since the 23rd of last month. These include juk, gimbap, hamburgers, chicken, tteokbokki, pizza, coffee, jajangmyeon, samgyeopsal, pork ribs, galbitang, and seolleongtang.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.