At a tourist site in Busan, a fish cake skewer is being sold for 3,000 won, sparking a 'price-gouging controversy.'
On the 18th, a video titled 'Busan street odeng price. 3,000 won? Isn't that too much? Busan fish cake price gouging situation!' was posted on the YouTube channel 'Tukgabi.'
In the video, the YouTuber, while filming near Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Gijang-gun, Busan, approached a stall and asked, 'How much is the spicy fish cake?' Upon receiving the response '3,000 won,' the YouTuber stuttered and asked again, 'How many, how many?'
The vendor clearly stated, '3,000 won each,' and the YouTuber responded, 'Oh, is that so?' as they turned away.
The YouTuber's group doubted, 'Did we misunderstand?' The YouTuber exclaimed, 'If the fish cake is 3,000 won each, isn't that too much? That person could buy a building,' showing disbelief. They then stated, 'Still, since it's fish cake sold in Busan, let's try just one,' and returned to the stall to purchase a spicy fish cake.
When they asked about the price of hot dogs being sold alongside, the reply was '4,000 won each.'
After eating the spicy fish cake, the YouTuber remarked, 'The taste of the fish cake is just like any other place; there's nothing special about it.'
The YouTuber, curious whether the prices were a result of collusion with nearby shops, asked about the price of spicy fish cakes at another stall and was told, '3,000 won each.'
Not only the spicy fish cake but also fish cakes without any seasoning were priced at 3,000 won. The YouTuber asked, 'Is this also 3,000 won?' and the vendor replied, 'Listen, the fish cakes themselves are different.' The YouTuber commented, 'Isn't 3,000 won quite expensive?' and the vendor confidently said, 'Try it and then talk.'
The YouTuber's group expressed, 'Ice cream is the same, and basically everything is 3,000-4,000 won,' adding, 'It must be tough for families.'
In response, the YouTuber said, 'That's too much,' and noted, 'If my daughter likes fish cakes and eats four, that would be 12,000 won,' expressing disbelief.
Afterward, the group decided to investigate fish cake prices at Haeundae Market in Busan. When they asked about the price of 'bulodeng' at a stall, it was '1,400 won each,' and the YouTuber commented, '1,400 won is also not that cheap.' Other stalls offered it for '1,200 won each.'
The YouTuber pointed out that even at street vendors in Gangnam Station, Seoul, where prices are expensive, fish cakes are usually 1,000 won each, criticizing the price gouging of Busan's fish cakes.
Internet users who came across the video criticized, saying, 'The reason my foreign friend won't visit Busan again is because of those overpricing street vendors,' 'As a resident of Busan, I would never patronize such places,' 'A family of four ate without asking prices at that tourist site and ended up with a bill over 50,000 won,' and 'Busan should realize the need for change when tourists cease to visit due to price gouging issues.'
Some citizens suspected price collusion and even lodged complaints, but the local government reportedly responded, 'The prices for food sales are at the discretion of the shops and we cannot enforce them.'