Kimbap on sale at a kimbap restaurant in Seoul. [Yonhap]
Kimbap on sale at a kimbap restaurant in Seoul. [Yonhap]

Kimbap has seen the steepest price increase this year among major restaurant menu items, data showed.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal, the average price of eight popular dining-out items in Seoul rose 2.5 percent in September compared with December last year.

The agency publishes average restaurant menu prices compiled from sample surveys conducted by local governments. Items tracked include naengmyeon, bibimbap, kimchi stew with rice, samgyeopsal, jajangmyeon, samgyetang, kalguksu and kimbap.

Kimbap posted the largest increase, with the average price of one roll reaching 3,923 won — up 5.4 percent from December last year. The Kimgane chain's "Kimgane Kimbap" now sells for more than 5,000 won, and many Seoul snack restaurants have already raised prices to around 4,000 won per roll.

Bibimbap came in second, rising 3.7 percent over the same period to 12,000 won ($9). Samgyeopsal (2.3 percent), kimchi stew with rice (2.2 percent), jajangmyeon (2.0 percent), naengmyeon and samgyetang (1.5 percent each), and kalguksu (1.2 percent) followed.

Kimbap and bibimbap both outpaced the overall average increase, while other items rose more modestly. The gains are attributed to higher prices for key ingredients such as eggs and rice, as well as rising labor costs.

Ministry of Statistics data show that among 39 dining-out categories tracked for consumer price inflation, dosirak recorded the highest year-on-year increase in September at 8.4 percent. Kimbap (4.9 percent) and raw fish (4.5 percent) followed. Hamburgers fell 1.6 percent, while pizza (0.0 percent) and coffee (0.2 percent) were little changed from a year earlier.


korean@heraldcorp.com