A Family Can Eat for 10,000 Won... Naengmyeon Fans Are Switching to This [Jumoney Talk]

The price of naengmyeon has been rising every year, increasing the burden on consumers. Photo by Pixabay

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The price of a bowl of naengmyeon, a popular summer dish, has soared well above 10,000 won, increasing the burden on consumers. This trend is particularly evident as some famous naengmyeon restaurants have raised their prices one after another, further intensifying the pressure. In this context, ready-to-eat naengmyeon meal kits that emphasize reasonable prices and convenience are gaining attention. Not only can they be easily prepared at home, but they also allow two to four people to enjoy naengmyeon for around 10,000 won, making them much more affordable compared to dining out.

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According to "ChamkaGyeok," the comprehensive price information portal of the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of a bowl of naengmyeon in Seoul as of June was 12,269 won. This is about a 36.3% increase compared to June 2020, when the price was 9,000 won. Looking at the average naengmyeon price trend in Seoul for June over the past five years: ▲2020: 9,000 won ▲2021: 9,500 won ▲2022: 10,269 won ▲2023: 11,154 won ▲2024: 11,923 won, showing a steady rise every year.

The rise in naengmyeon prices appears to be more closely related to increased labor and rental costs, rather than the price of main ingredients such as buckwheat. According to data from the Agricultural Products Distribution Information System (Nongnet), the average wholesale price of 1kg of buckwheat at the end of last month was 3,274 won, a 7% decrease compared to the same period last year. Although the price of buckwheat, the main ingredient, has fallen, the overall operating costs, including labor and facility maintenance, have increased, leading to higher naengmyeon prices.

Naengmyeon specialty restaurants are also steadily raising their prices. "Pildong Myeonok," a naengmyeon restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide Seoul, raised its naengmyeon price by 1,000 won from 14,000 won to 15,000 won this year. "Eulmildae," famous for its Pyongyang Naengmyeon, increased the price of mul-naengmyeon from 15,000 won to 16,000 won, while "Bongpiyang" and "Pyeonggaok" are both selling it for 16,000 won. If this trend continues, there are growing concerns that the era of "20,000 won naengmyeon" is not far off.

Citizens are passing in front of a cold noodle specialty restaurant in a food alley in Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

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As naengmyeon prices rise rapidly, ready-to-eat meal kits that can be easily prepared at home are drawing attention. These naengmyeon meal kits typically contain enough for two to four servings per package, yet are priced around 10,000 won, making them much more affordable than dining out. As a result, among consumers who value cost-effectiveness during the economic downturn, these meal kits are being highlighted as a more reasonable alternative to eating out.

Office worker Kim Seungju (31) said, "It seems like naengmyeon gets noticeably more expensive every summer. Especially for Pyongyang Naengmyeon, 15,000 won per bowl has become the norm, so dining out with family even once is quite a burden." He added, "In the past, I used to visit naengmyeon restaurants often in the summer, but these days, I tend to choose other foods instead of spending that much on naengmyeon. In fact, it's much more cost-effective to buy a meal kit and make it at home."

In reality, the demand for ready-to-eat naengmyeon products is growing rapidly. Pulmuone announced that last year, during peak season (April to August), sales of "summer noodles" such as naengmyeon and makguksu increased by 6.3% in volume and 7.5% in revenue compared to the previous year, achieving record-high results. The average annual growth rate over the past three years was 12.9%, and this trend is expected to continue this year as well.

Meal kit products are also steadily gaining popularity among consumers. The "Olmyeon Sokcho-style Hoe Naengmyeon" sold on Kurly has received about 58,000 reviews, while the "Sobanok Naengmyeon Meal Kit" has garnered over 6,000 reviews, both showing high purchase rates.

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