"Extra Steamed Rice, Please" "It's 2000 Won"…Lunch Office Workers in Panic

As food ingredient prices have recently surged sharply, restaurants that raised the price of a bowl of rice, which had been fixed at 1,000 won for the past several years, to 2,000 won are appearing one after another. Some netizens, surprised by the price hike, are even posting 'Bowl of rice 2,000 won certification' on various online communities.

Recently, posts titled '2000 Won Steamed Rice Certification' have been appearing mainly on domestic online communities. Netizens are sharing photos of menus showing the price of steamed rice as 2000 won.
[Photo by Pixabay]

원본보기 아이콘

According to the Agricultural Products Distribution Information from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 20th, the average retail price of 20kg of rice was 61,505 won as of the 18th, about 20% higher than a year ago (48,952 won).

Looking at the rice price trends over the past 10 years, the average rice price from January to September was highest in 2021, but the October rice price this year was the highest at 61,543 won for a 20kg bag.

The market price of a bowl of rice has risen even more sharply than the rice price itself. Recently, posts certifying 'Bowl of rice 2,000 won' have been appearing mainly on domestic online communities. Netizens are sharing photos of menus showing the price of a bowl of rice as 2,000 won.

Netizens who saw these posts expressed surprise at the soaring restaurant prices, saying, "I thought a bowl of rice would always be 1,000 won."

Recently, posts titled '2000 Won for a Bowl of Rice Certification' have been appearing mainly on domestic online communities. Netizens are sharing photos of menus showing the price of a bowl of rice as 2000 won.
[Photo by Online Community]

원본보기 아이콘

However, self-employed business owners say, "The price increase for a bowl of rice has been suppressed for over 10 years and is only now appearing all at once."

On the largest online cafe for self-employed business owners in Korea, posts asking to "join the movement to charge 1,500 won for a bowl of rice" have been posted continuously since 2021.

Netizens' reactions remain cold. They responded with comments such as, "Is it right to raise prices by 50-100% all at once, no matter how much rice prices have risen?", "Asking to join the movement to charge 1,500 won for a bowl of rice is collusion," and "The reduced portion size of the bowl of rice should also be considered."

Not only rice but overall food prices are also on the rise. According to the Korea Consumer Agency's comprehensive price information portal 'Chamgagyeok', the price of a bowl of jajangmyeon in Seoul last month was 7,069 won, up 77 won from the previous month. This is the first time jajangmyeon prices have exceeded 7,000 won.

The price of one serving (200g) of pork belly at restaurants also rose by 103 won from the previous month to 19,253 won, and naengmyeon prices increased from the 12,000 won range to the 13,000 won range. The retail price of one head of napa cabbage was 6,587 won, about 11% higher than the same period last year (5,934 won).

During the same period, samgyetang rose by 8.95% to 16,846 won, and bibimbap increased by 7.96% to 10,423 won. Prices of naengmyeon (6.96%), kalguksu (6.39%), gimbap (5.54%), and kimchi jjigae set meals (4.85%) also rose.

In particular, the five representative affordable dishes?bibimbap, jajangmyeon, samgyetang, kalguksu, and gimbap?have all increased in price compared to the previous month, adding to consumers' financial burdens.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.