Course Meal and Wine Order Refusal Leads to 'Reservation Cancellation'... Persistent Christmas Price Gouging

Limited Menu Only at Some Stores
Prices Doubled Compared to Usual
Cancellation Notice Even for Reservations Made 20 Days in Advance
Consumer Complaints Spread Amid High Inflation

As the coldest subzero weather of the year continues, tourists are passing by a Santa Claus figure installed in the garden of a hotel in Myeongdong, Seoul, on the 23rd, ahead of Christmas. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee and Hwang Seoyul] Office worker Mr. Lee (34) received a cancellation request from a restaurant less than a week before Christmas on the 19th. The restaurant asked for understanding, saying that reservations would be difficult unless a 60,000 KRW per person course meal and a bottle of wine were ordered, and Mr. Lee ultimately reluctantly agreed to cancel the reservation.

On the 23rd, a check through the real-time restaurant reservation app 'Catch Table' by this publication revealed that more than 10 restaurants were selling limited menus only on Christmas.

A French cuisine specialty restaurant in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, only allowed orders for lunch (80,000 KRW) and dinner (120,000 KRW) set menus. Normally, lunch is sold at 45,000 KRW and dinner at 65,000 KRW, but on this day, prices were doubled. Similarly, a fusion restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, announced that the lunch set menu, originally sold for 52,000 KRW, would be sold at 75,000 KRW, an increase of 20,000 KRW.

C Restaurant in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, stated that a wine order was mandatory to make a reservation. The situation was similar at D Restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, and E Restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu. A restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, contacted customers who had made reservations on the 5th of this month to request understanding for cancellation.

Consumers, already struggling with high inflation, expressed dissatisfaction, saying their feelings were hurt as well.

On an online bulletin board, a post titled "I am confused by the restaurant reservation cancellation" was uploaded. The author of the post stated, "I made a reservation for Christmas Day in November, but five days before Christmas, I was informed that only a 150,000 KRW course meal was available," adding, "There was no prior menu information on the website at the time of reservation." Another poster also canceled a reservation at a restaurant on Christmas Eve. That restaurant also provided no prior notice at the time of reservation.

Ms. Park Minju (33), living in Jamsil, Seoul, said, "There are too many cases where menu restrictions are imposed on Christmas," and added, "I even heard that some places only allow set menus on-site." She further said, "I advised my friends to go to franchise restaurants rather than get overcharged."

Regarding this, the Korea Consumer Agency stated, "If a menu not previously notified is forced, we can recommend contract maintenance and compensation to allow free use of any menu, but there is no legal enforcement." In effect, consumers bear all disadvantages. Especially if no deposit was paid in advance when making the reservation, it is difficult to interpret this as a 'breach of contract.'

An anonymous lawyer said, "Applying the food service industry standards for consumer dispute resolution, it seems appropriate to consider compensation for damages up to 10% of the total usage amount."

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