"Up Again?" What Costs 4,500 Won Elsewhere Is 6,500 Won Here... I Couldn't Believe My Eyes at the Price Tag

Analysis of Approved Price Increases from 2021 to 2026
125 Increases Approved... 15 Were 20% or More
Reasons for Price Increases Unclear in 8 Cases

Restaurants, including coffee shops and snack bars operating inside railway stations, raised prices by an average of 12.5% each time they increased them, a survey found. Some outlets also sold food at higher prices than shops around the stations.

According to the “Record of Approved Price Increases for Specialty Store (Restaurant) Items” submitted by Korail Retail to Assemblyman Kim Mi-ae of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, 125 price increases were approved between 2021 and 2026. Of these, 79 cases (63.2%) involved a single increase of at least 10%, while 15 cases (12%) involved an increase of at least 20%.

Some outlets raised prices multiple times, resulting in larger cumulative increases. A snack bar at Pyeongtaek Station in Gyeonggi Province raised the prices of udon and bibimbap three times between 2021 and 2024. The price of both dishes rose 44.4%, from 4,500 won to 6,500 won.

Restaurants at railway stations were found to raise prices by an average of 12.5% each time they increased them, Yonhap News reported.

A bakery at Jeonju Station raised the price of an Americano from 2,500 won to 3,000 won in 2021, then raised it again to 3,500 won later that year. A Chinese restaurant at Dongdaegu Station also adjusted the price of jajangmyeon twice in 2022, first from 5,500 won to 6,000 won and then to 6,500 won.

In eight cases, the reasons for the price increases were unclear. Two cited “boosting sales,” and three cited “improving store profitability and easing the cost burden.” The remaining reasons included “adjusting selling prices,” “a request to change prices” and “menu price increases and restructuring.”

Assemblyman Kim pointed out, “Even in cases where rising raw material and labor costs were cited, it is difficult to determine how the actual cost increases and the appropriateness of the requested price hikes were assessed.”

From September 7 to 11, Korail Retail compared the prices of 75 products with those at nearby shops at seven stations: Seoul, Yongsan, Daejeon, Dongdaegu, Busan, Iksan and Gwangju-Songjeong. Station outlets were cheaper in 51 cases, prices were the same in 14, and station outlets were more expensive in 10.

Of all the comparisons, 22 cases (29.3%) used stores inside department stores or large shopping malls as a benchmark. Nineteen of those comparisons were conducted at Dongdaegu Station, raising questions about whether the comparison method was appropriate. Four types of gimbap priced at 5,000 won at Dongdaegu Station were compared with gimbap priced at 8,800 won at a store inside Shinsegae Department Store.

Some menu items were actually more expensive than at nearby shops. Ramen at a snack bar at Busan Station cost 5,500 won, 37.5% more than at nearby outlets, while udon at a snack bar at Iksan Station cost 7,500 won, 25% more than at nearby outlets.

Assemblyman Kim stressed, “Since food prices at railway stations directly affect the living expenses of train passengers, Korail Retail should review not only price increase requests but also the commission burden on its tenant businesses.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.