[Graphic News] Gimbap prices rise faster than other dining-out staples

Gimbap prices are rising faster than dining out as the costs of rice, eggs and seaweed continue to climb.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of a roll of gimbap in Seoul reached 3,838 won ($2.77) in June, up 5.9 percent from a year earlier. It marked the sharpest increase among the eight popular dishes surveyed, followed by samgyeopsal at 4.3 percent, kalguksu at 3.6 percent, and naengmyeon and samgyetang at 2.8 percent each.

The increase was driven largely by higher ingredient costs. Rice prices rose 13.2 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, while egg and seaweed prices increased 9 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

Gimbap prices rose another 4.5 percent in July, outpacing increases in other major dining-out items. With inflation expected to remain elevated, dining-out costs are unlikely to ease in the near term.