Gangneung Danojang Known as 'Hyeja', Slush Prices Double in 4 Days Causing Stir

SNS post "Slush 8,000 won in 4 days"
Dano Festival Committee "Verifying facts... will take guidance measures"

At the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage with a thousand-year tradition, a controversy over overpriced drinks has erupted on social media, as children are charged 8,000 won for a single drink they enjoy.

According to a Yonhap News report on the 25th, a post appeared on social media in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, the previous day stating, "I took my child to the Dano Market, and the child wanted a character slushie. I chose the dinosaur character and gave a 10,000 won bill when receiving the slushie, but they only gave me 2,000 won in change." The post continued, "Is it possible for a character slushie to cost 8,000 won? Am I just out of touch with the world?" The author also commented on their own post, saying, "It was 4,000 won last Sunday, but on Thursday it was 8,000 won," adding, "I asked about the price, but I thought it was excessive when buying it. Even if prices have risen, this is too much."

At a local festival, there is controversy over overcharging as they charge 8,000 won for a single cup of slushie. The photo is not directly related. [Image source=Getty Images]

The character slushie is a slushie drink served in a cute container shaped like animals such as dinosaurs. Several vendors sell these drinks at the Gangneung Dano Market, but the author did not specify the exact store where the purchase was made.

While most netizens expressed outrage, agreeing that it was a rip-off, some argued that prices at amusement parks and similar places are comparable, leading to a heated debate.

Many Gangneung residents commented, "That's why I don't go to the Dano Market," "It's a local festival, but doesn't Gangneung City regulate prices?" "Gangneung City boasts about catching one vendor selling potato pancakes," "Honestly, it's too expensive," and "I bought it for 4,000 won, so this is definitely a rip-off," showing support for the post's author.

On the night of the 24th, one day before the closing of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, the area around Namdaecheon Danojang in Gangneung-si, Gangwon is bustling with visitors.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, some opposed, saying, "You don't know how the world works. Even at amusement parks, it's all 8,000 won," "If you asked the price and bought it, you bought it willingly," and "That's about the price for drinks served in character cups." One citizen advised, "Others bought it for 4,000 to 5,000 won, but if you paid 8,000 won, you were taken advantage of. However, if you ask the price beforehand, you can make a reasonable purchase," adding, "If the child was happy, then it was worth more than that."

Earlier, the Gangneung Danoje Committee held meetings with merchants to address ongoing food price gouging controversies at regional festivals such as the Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Environmental Love Festival, Jeonbuk Namwon Chunhyang Festival, Jeonnam Hampyeong Butterfly Festival, and Gangwon Chuncheon Makguksu Dakgalbi Festival. They implemented self-regulation measures, such as setting the price of two potato pancakes at 12,000 won and the Makgeolli called Danoju at 6,000 won.

Regarding the 'rip-off slushie' controversy, a representative of the Gangneung Danoje Committee told Yonhap News, "We are currently checking and inspecting the price notices and price tags at the vendor in question and other booths once again."

The Gangneung Danoje is a village communal festival held around Dano Day in Gangneung City to honor the village guardian deity. It was designated as a national intangible cultural asset in 1967 and was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2005. This year's Gangneung Danoje, which began on the 18th, will conclude on the 25th.

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