"Modumjeon This Much for 15,000 Won?"... Overcharging Controversy Spreads to Gwangjang Market

Tourist Spot Image Also at Risk Amid 'Overcharging' Controversy

The controversy over 'overcharging,' which had centered around local festivals, has spread to traditional markets in Seoul. The 15,000 won assorted jeon (Korean pancake) at Gwangjang Market has become the focal point of the debate.

On the 16th, a video was uploaded to the YouTube channel 'Heecheolism,' featuring YouTuber Yoon Heecheol visiting Gwangjang Market to introduce Seoul's famous spots to his Vietnamese acquaintance.

Photo by screenshot from YouTube channel 'Heechulism'

Yoon said, "Since foreign friends came, I wanted to try some delicious jeon," and ordered a plate of assorted jeon priced at 15,000 won.

The shop owner then said, "(One plate of assorted jeon) is too little for three people to eat," and recommended ordering more.

When Yoon's group said, "We'll try it first and then order more," the owner retorted, "It's not enough. It's the amount for two people. 15,000 won is not enough," giving a somewhat scolding remark.

While handing over the plate of assorted jeon, the restaurant staff again insisted on ordering more, saying, "The portion is small, so you need to order additional dishes."

Yoon, holding the plate, was greatly surprised and asked, "Is this 15,000 won?" The jeon, made with ingredients like crab sticks, ham, and zucchini, contained just over ten pieces.

A Vietnamese woman in the group exclaimed, "(This is) 15,000 won? It's too expensive," expressing astonishment at the high prices. She picked up one crab stick jeon and joked, "I'll try the 2,000 won crab stick," making a pointed remark.

When uploading the video to his channel, Yoon cautioned against generalizing the issue to the entire market, saying, "Other places in Gwangjang Market were really friendly. We came to this less crowded place because other spots were full, but unfortunately, this one was a bit problematic."

Continuous Overcharging Controversies... What Is the Real Problem?

Photo by KBS2 broadcast screen capture

Domestic tourist attractions are suffering from a series of 'overcharging' controversies. There are concerns that the tourism industry, a key driver of local economic growth, could be undermined.

The controversy was sparked by the KBS2 variety show '1 Night 2 Days' aired in June. The cast visited a traditional market in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and purchased old-fashioned snacks, but the vendor demanded 70,000 won per bag.

This incident led to the sharing of experiences of 'overcharging' by some merchants at domestic tourist sites and traditional markets, bringing the issue to the surface.

While overcharging may be the problem of some merchants, its impact affects the image of the entire event venue. The reason for concern is that if the recurring problem of overcharging at tourist sites, which causes complaints every year, is not addressed promptly, the local economy in Korea could become precarious.

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