Dining-out costs keep climbing, with a bowl of jajangmyeon now averaging 7,808 won

A meat counter at a hypermarket in Seoul. [Yonhap]
A meat counter at a hypermarket in Seoul. [Yonhap]

Soaring dining-out costs have pushed the average price of a bowl of bibimbap in Seoul past 12,000 won ($9) for the first time.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal, the average price of a bibimbap bowl in Seoul reached 12,000 won in September, up 77 won from 11,923 won the previous month.

Bibimbap contains a range of ingredients — steamed rice, a fried egg, meat, assorted vegetables and gochujang — making its price closely tied to movements in agricultural and livestock costs. The Ministry of Statistics' consumer price index showed that rice prices rose 2.3 percent year-on-year in September, while mushrooms climbed 12.5 percent, domestic beef 6.6 percent and eggs 1.1 percent.

Prices for other staple dishes show no sign of slowing. The average price of a bowl of jajangmyeon in Seoul rose from 7,731 won in August to 7,808 won in September, while a kimchi stew set meal edged up from 8,769 won to 8,846 won, putting a breach of the 9,000-won mark within reach. Kimbap was the exception, holding steady at 3,923 won per roll, unchanged from the previous month.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Statistics' consumer price trends report for September, released Oct. 2, showed that the consumer price index stood at 120.43 (base year 2020=100), up 2.9 percent from a year earlier. Meat and seafood prices rose 3.7 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, outpacing the overall average.


hope@heraldcorp.com