[Anchor]
It is time for Friendly Economy on Friday, with reporter Han Jiyeon. Han, today (October 16), we are talking about convenience store gimbap.
[Reporter]
You cannot simply choose by the name alone.
One was named "Tuna-Packed," yet it contained the least amount of tuna.
Another case featured the most expensive bulgogi gimbap, which surprisingly had the least amount of meat.
As dining out costs rise, many people grab a quick meal with convenience store gimbap.
The Korea Consumer Agency cut 12 types of gimbap from four major convenience store chains in half to inspect their fillings.
This was because consumers were most curious about the inner ingredients.
Placing the cross-sections side by side revealed the differences at a glance.
First, looking at tuna gimbap, Seven-Eleven's "King Packed Tuna Gimbap" contained the most generous amount of tuna.
The gimbap mentioned earlier with the least tuna was GS25's "Tuna-Packed Tuna Mayo Gimbap."
Instead, it had the lowest ratio of rice and laver, featuring more of other fillings like eggs and fish cakes.
The differences were even starker among bulgogi gimbaps.
The bulgogi filling in CU's Bulgogi Gimbap accounted for nearly a quarter of the entire gimbap, containing nearly twice as much meat as GS25's Bulgogi Cheese Gimbap.
However, the GS25 product was the most expensive among the 12 tested.
E-mart 24's Bulgogi Gimbap was the heaviest per roll, but had the lowest proportion of bulgogi and contained the most rice instead.
Standard gimbaps also showed interesting results.
Priced identically at 2,800 won, E-mart 24's "7-Flavor Hearty Gimbap" weighed over 40 grams more than Seven-Eleven's "Alchan Gimbap," containing a correspondingly generous amount of rice.
For those wanting tightly packed fillings, GS25's "Geunbon Gimbap" was the most substantial, with fillings like eggs and fish cakes making up nearly half of it.
You can choose based on your preference for fillings or rice.
[Anchor]
Did the report also analyze the nutritional content of these gimbaps?
[Reporter]
While they fill your stomach, the nutrition fell somewhat short.
Calories were lacking, while sodium levels were excessive.
A single roll of gimbap provided about one-fifth to one-fourth of the daily recommended caloric intake for women in their 20s, making it insufficient as a full meal.
Carbohydrates were also under a quarter of the daily requirement, and regular gimbap contained less protein than tuna or bulgogi gimbap.
However, there was a twist.
GS25's Tuna Mayo Gimbap, which had the least amount of tuna, recorded the highest calories and fat among the 12 products.
Because tuna gimbap contains mayonnaise, its fat content was more than double that of regular gimbap.
As for sodium, a single roll contained up to 70 percent of the daily recommended limit.
The saltiest was CU's Tuna Gimbap, while the least salty was Seven-Eleven's Limit-Exceeded Bulgogi Gimbap.
The real issue lies with what people pair it with.
Not many people eat gimbap all by itself.
I do too, and 70 percent of surveyed gimbap consumers said they eat it alongside cup ramen. A single serving of cup ramen, around 100 grams, contains more than two-thirds of the daily sodium limit.
This means even if you eat it with the least salty gimbap, you still exceed your daily intake.
Consequently, the Consumer Agency advised against pairing gimbap with cup ramen, recommending milk or eggs instead.
They also suggested checking the sodium content on the back of the packaging before making a purchase.
Fortunately, all 12 products met standards regarding preservatives, heavy metals, bacteria, allergen declarations, and country-of-origin labeling.
[Anchor]
Does this part cover ways to receive discounts?
[Reporter]
Making good use of discounts can significantly slash the price of a roll of gimbap.
While price gaps between similar items are only a few hundred won, applying discounts makes a much bigger difference.
Seven-Eleven offers a 2,000-won gimbap subscription that provides a 30 percent discount on gimbap up to ten times this month.
Combined with discounts from SK Telecom's subscription service T Universe Pass, a 3,300-won tuna gimbap can be purchased for 1,710 won.
CU offers a 25 percent discount through its app subscription, and up to 40 percent this month depending on conditions when paying with Kakao Pay or Toss Face Pay.
GS25 sells convenience foods such as gimbap with a shelf life of three hours or less for up to 45 percent off through its app.
E-mart 24 offers a 15 percent discount and a 15 percent reward point accumulation when paying with Naver Pay.
Since discount promotions change monthly, it is best to check the app before buying.
However, subscriptions require upfront payment, so they are more advantageous for frequent buyers.
The comparative results for the 12 gimbaps can be viewed at a glance on the Consumer 24 website under the "Comparison Empathy" section.
Also, because convenience store gimbap contains various mixed ingredients, its shelf life expires within around two days of production.
For closing-time discount items in particular, be sure to check the date and time, and if the taste or smell seems unusual, do not eat them and request a refund.
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