This year, the average price of popular dining menu items among consumers has increased by 4%.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal, "Consumer Price," on the 15th, the average price increase rate for eight consumer-preferred dining menu items from January to November was 4.0% based on Seoul.
By menu, gimbap rose from 3,323 won in January to 3,500 won last month, marking the largest increase at 5.3%. During the same period, jajangmyeon increased from 7,069 won to 7,423 won, and bibimbap rose from 10,654 won to 11,192 won, both increasing by 5.0%.
The price increase rates by menu are as follows: naengmyeon (11,385 won to 11,923 won) at 4.7%, kalguksu (9,038 won to 9,385 won) at 3.8%, and samgyeopsal (200g equivalent; 19,429 won to 20,083 won) at 3.4%.
Samgyetang rose from 16,846 won to 17,629 won, increasing by 2.5%, while kimchi jjigae set meal increased from 8,000 won to 8,192 won for a 2.4% rise, which was relatively smaller.
Amidst the overall high inflation phenomenon, dining prices have shown a sharp upward trend throughout the year. Samgyeopsal (200g equivalent), one of the most popular menu items among Koreans, first crossed the 20,000 won threshold in May in Seoul, and samgyetang also surpassed the 17,000 won mark in July.
In addition to dining prices, the fees for major personal services such as laundry, accommodation (inns), beauty, and bathing have also uniformly increased this year. By industry, the fee for beauty salons (women's adult haircuts) in Seoul increased from 21,615 won in January to 22,923 won, recording the highest increase rate at 6.1%.
During the same period, the fee for public baths increased from 10,154 won to 10,538 won, rising by 3.8%, while accommodation (inns) increased from 51,231 won to 52,423 won for a 2.3% rise.
The price increase rates for laundry (dry cleaning for suits; 9,308 won to 9,462 won) and barber fees (men's adult haircuts; 12,308 won to 12,538 won) were relatively low at 1.7% and 1.9%, respectively. The average increase rate for the five personal service fees was 3.2%.