Prices of food and beverages sold at airports across the country have risen by up to 45 percent for some products, presumably due to relatively high rent, according to a government analysis released Friday.
Fourteen airports operated by the Korea Airports Corp. have seen increases in the prices of meals between August 2021 and August 2026, according to KAC data released by Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the main opposition People Power Party.
The steepest hike was for bibimbap sold at the Cheongju International Airport, which rose by 45.5 percent from 11,000 won to 16,000 won ($8.20 to $11.90) in that time span. A serving of tonkatsu at the same airport rose by 36.4 percent, while a bowl of ramyeon at Ulsan Airport rose by 30 percent.
The KAC operates all civilian airports across the country except for Incheon Airport, which is run by the Incheon International Airport Corp.
Rent is thought to have attributed to the price hikes. The rent-to-sales ratio at the airport eateries marked 31.9 percent on average between 2021 and 2025.
As of 2025, 28 of the 96 food-related businesses had a rent-to-sales ratio of at least 40 percent, with the figure surpassing 50 percent for 10 eateries. The highest ratio was recorded at a Dunkin' Donuts shop at the international terminal of Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, which recorded 65.6 percent that year.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
