Selling food at excessively high prices at the Ulsan World Food Culture Hall, where visitors can enjoy traditional dishes from six countries, has stirred controversy. The dispute has intensified especially after it became known that monthly rents for stores at the World Food Culture Hall are about one-tenth of those in the nearby Seongnam-dong commercial district.
Ulsan City held an opening ceremony for the World Food Culture Hall at Ulsan Bridge the day before and began operations. The World Food Culture Hall was established to share diverse food cultures in an era with 36,000 foreign residents. Six stores selling foods from Italy, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, and Uzbekistan have moved into four temporary buildings.
But from opening day, there were complaints that prices were too high. A whole pepperoni pizza sold at the Italy hall costs 36,000 won, and a slice is 9,000 won. Thai restaurant fried rice is 15,500 won, and the Mexican restaurant's Mexican bowl is 14,500 won.
Some say the prices are burdensome for foreign workers at the Ulsan industrial complex, the main customer base. Many also argue the food prices are inflated given the low rent of 300,000 won for tenant stores. Earlier, Ulsan City set rents at about one-tenth of surrounding commercial rates to create a mixed-use cultural space at Ulsan Bridge.
Residents noted, "If public funds are involved and rent is set low, food prices should be at a level residents can use without burden." Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-kyum also was said to have noted that "since there are complaints that prices are high, adjustments are needed."