Prices of jjajangmyeon, Korea's cheap go-to meal, soar amid inflation

Jjajangmyeon is losing its name as the meal for the working class as prices continue to soar amid inflation. One bowl of the noodles covered in black bean sauce would set customers back 6,361 won ($4.85) on average this year, according to market...

People walk past a Chinese restaurant in Myeong-dong of Jung District, central Seoul, on March 6. [NEWS1]

Jjajangmyeon is losing its name as the meal for the working class as prices continue to soar amid inflation.

One bowl of the noodles covered in black bean sauce would set customers back 6,361 won ($4.85) on average this year, according to market price researcher Korea Price Information (KPI) on Wednesday.

Its price rose 26.9 percent over the last five years, and more than 60 times compared to the 1970s when it cost just a few hundred won per dish.

Jjajangmyeon prices hiked to 2,500 won in 2000 and 5,000 won in 2018. It surpassed the 6,000-won mark last year.

The rise in food prices in general, backed by inflation, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, hauled the lift.

The price of onions rose 166.7 percent from 2018. Cucumbers skyrocketed 275 percent, which led some restaurants to replace it with radish sprouts.

Flour was 46.9 percent more expensive than it was five years ago, and cooking oil jumped 33.2 percent.

“Jjajangmyeon prices may differ by region because different regions and restaurants add different ingredients, such as cabbage or potato,” KPI researcher Kwon Dae-hyun said.

BY HA SU-YOUNG [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]