▲ Kimchi stew
The price of a single serving of kimchi stew with rice has surpassed 9,000 won.
According to "Price Information Portal" operated by the Korea Consumer Agency on the 16th, the national average price of a kimchi stew meal in August was tallied at 9,080 won.
Compared to 8,741 won in September of last year, it increased by 339 won (3.9%) over the span of a year.
This is a simple average of itemized prices across 16 cities and provinces compiled by the agency.
The region with the most expensive kimchi stew meal was Daejeon, averaging 10,600 won, while the cheapest was Gwangju and South Jeolla Province at 8,278 won.
In Seoul, prices surpassed the 7,000-won range in October 2021, the 8,000-won range in December 2023, and 8,500 won in February 2025, continuing their upward trend to reach 8,769 won last month.
Among major dining-out menu items, naengmyeon (cold noodles) and bibimbap have already exceeded 10,000 won, and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) has also entered the 9,000-won range.
The price of naengmyeon in August stood at 10,845 won, up 353 won (3.4%) from a year earlier, while bibimbap rose by 228 won (2.3%) to 10,314 won.
Kalguksu rose by 259 won (2.9%) to 9,057 won.
Jajangmyeon rose by 236 won (3.4%) from a year ago to 7,230 won.
Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) rose by 400 won (2.4%) to 16,868 won, and pork belly (samgyeopsal) per 200g (converted) rose by 436 won (2.5%) to 17,877 won.
Overall, the prices of major dining-out menu items are higher than they were a year ago.
However, looking solely at the single month of August, price fluctuations varied by item.
Kimchi stew with rice increased by 38 won, bibimbap by 26 won, jajangmyeon by 23 won, and pork belly per 200g (converted) by 35 won compared to July.
On the other hand, samgyetang decreased by 39 won and kalguksu fell by 7 won.
Naengmyeon rose by 2 won, remaining similar in price to the previous month.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.