Rising Food Prices Lead to Increased Interest in Budget Eating Options

‘Saline water consumption’ due to rising food prices

It takes 40 minutes to buy 1,000 won kimbap, and we compare cafes around the site to save money on desserts such as coffee, which are expensive.

▲ Ingredients for kimbap at the ‘1000 win kimbap’ shop in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. Reporter Kang Dong-yong A restaurant in Jungnang-gu, Seoul on the 22nd. As lunchtime approached, a long line of people formed, including nearby office workers, housewives, and elderly people. Some people came from places more than an hour away, such as Gwangjin-gun or Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do. As the number of customers has increased recently, the restaurant has reduced the kimbap purchase limit per person from 10 to 5. The reason is that so many customers ‘ come here because of the amazing price of ‘1,000 won per row of kimbap (based on packaging).’

Mr Shin (32), an office worker who visited the restaurant, said, “Although the price is cheap, there are essential ingredients, including pickled radish, fish cake, ham, eggs and carrots. “Compared to other gimpap restaurants that cost 3,000 to 4,000 won, there is no shortage.” Kim Hee-yeon (50), who came here on Ttareungi from 40 minutes away, said, “I’m glad there is a restaurant like this while prices are rising so crazy. Lee Seong (65), who has been running this restaurant since 2019, said five years ago, “I started sharing this shop with people in need,” and said e, “When I first started business, a bag of seaweed, the main ingredient (for 100 pieces), was 7,500 won, but now it costs 1. “It went up from about 5,000 won to 2,500 who won, but I don’t plan to raise the price of kimbap,” he said of an increase in food prices at the cafe at the Gwanghwamun Post Office in Jongno-gu. Reporter Kang Dong-yong As the prices of fruits and vegetables, such as ‘golden apples’, as well as processed foods and eating out, continue to rise, more and more people are cutting back eat and drink. This is because, in a situation where there is no significant change in income, food costs are the only cost that can be reduced, excluding fixed costs such as loan interest, monthly rent, and various utility bills . Also, the cost of the food itself has increased. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the inflation rate for domestic food products and beverages was 6.95% as of February, already higher than the OECD average (5.32%).

Not only do they pack lunches, but there are long lines at restaurants that are as cheap as 1,000 won gimbap, they look for restaurants that lower their food prices by saying , “We’re going back to the prices of 3 years ago,” and they don’t shy away from eating at other people’s company cafes that offer good value for money.

At lunchtime, office worker Gomo (45) compares prices and menus with his colleagues on the cafe information community ‘Bapful.com’ and finds a cafe near him. hand I decide where to go based on different reviews such as ‘I don’t think there is anywhere as good as this place’ and ‘It’s a shame it’s sold out’ out even at 12:30′ ▲ On the 22nd, office workers from nearby companies opened a cafe in the basement of the Korean Federation of Industries Hall in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-to Reporter Kang Dong-yong Recently , Mr. Go, who shuttles between the Catholic Center and the Seoul Fire and Disaster Prevention Center cafe, laughed and said, “Lunch out costs 12,000 won, but the cafe cost half the price, won 5,500.” In fact, when the Seoul Shinmun visited four cafes where you can get food for less than 6,000 won, 7 out of 10 customers of the restaurant were foreigners. “In the past, I could to have lunch without having long wait, but these days, I have to wait 10 to 15 minutes to get in.” Another office worker who lives in Mapo-gu said, “These days, even if you want to have a drink with friends, you go to a store that promotes cheap snacks because the prices are has gone back’. “

Some people bring frozen lunch boxes or cut back on coffee and other desserts. Choi Ji-eun (26), an office worker, said, “I heat up a frozen lunch box worth 8,900 won about 2-3 times a week and eat it,” and added, “It has it becomes natural to drink coffee capsules from the company coffee room in a personal cup instead of going to a cafe.” Lee Eun-hee, professor of consumer studies at Inha University, said, “Expectations for the economic situation to improve are lower due not only to high inflation, but also high oil prices, rates high interest, and high exchange rates.” he said, “The trend of trying to save money on food will continue where costs can be reduced at this time.”

Reporters Kang Dong-yong and Kim Ju-yeon