More foreign tourists turn backs on Myeong-dong due to pricey foods
Street vendors say no choice but to charge more
Thai tourist Kaewjai Kittatornnithi visited Myeong-dong, a popular tourist district in downtown Seoul, for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic and was surprised to find out how much street food prices have gone up.
"I came to Myeong-dong four or five years ago and I remember the price of street foods cost, at most, 3,000 won ($2.31), back then. I had one stick of a grilled octopus skewer last night and the vendor charged me 5,000 won," Kittatornnithi, 34, told The Korea Times, Wednesday. "With that money I can buy five pieces of grilled pork skewers, one sticky rice and a side dish of small vegetables in Bangkok. I wouldn't come to Myeong-dong just for street food anymore."
A Canadian traveler surnamed Farah also thinks street food in Myeong-dong is too pricey.
"I would say street food prices here are bit too high compared to other Asian countries. I tried street foods here because I am a tourist and it is my first time visiting Korea. But I don't think I will come back to Myeong-dong for street food at this price next time I come to Seoul," Farah said.
Many foreign tourists, who are flocking to the iconic shopping district after the pandemic, are frustrated to find out how expensive street foods in Myeong-dong are.
The prices may show slight differences between vendors, but most of them sell three pieces of fried dumplings, a grilled chicken skewer and a stick of tornado potato for 5,000 won, each, on average.
Even considering the recent rise of street food prices in other commercial districts of Seoul, Myeong-dong still shows higher prices.
Next door in Namdaemun Market, vendors charge 5,000 won for six fried dumplings. In southern Seoul, one grilled chicken skewer costs 3,500 won, which is 30 percent cheaper than Myeong-dong.
A street vendor in Myeong-dong surnamed Lee said the street food prices are particularly high because the commercial district was hit harder than anywhere else during the pandemic.
"Myeong-dong was hit hardest by the COVID-19. We live mostly by selling street food to tourists and we had zero people coming to the district in the last three years. I think the prices are reasonable considering how much we suffered during the pandemic," Lee said.
Like Lee, many street vendors there argue that food inflation is inevitable due to the recent pandemic plus the war in Ukraine affecting the prices of ingredients. They also have to pay the local government 1 million won to 5 million won annually for exclusive use of the road.
Jung District Office said it cannot legally force street vendors to lower food prices. But it said it is recommending them to set reasonable prices for street foods that will not hurt tourism in the area.
source: The Korea Times
Thai tourist Kaewjai Kittatornnithi visited Myeong-dong, a popular tourist district in downtown Seoul, for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic and was surprised to find out how much street food prices have gone up.
"I came to Myeong-dong four or five years ago and I remember the price of street foods cost, at most, 3,000 won ($2.31), back then. I had one stick of a grilled octopus skewer last night and the vendor charged me 5,000 won," Kittatornnithi, 34, told The Korea Times, Wednesday. "With that money I can buy five pieces of grilled pork skewers, one sticky rice and a side dish of small vegetables in Bangkok. I wouldn't come to Myeong-dong just for street food anymore."
A Canadian traveler surnamed Farah also thinks street food in Myeong-dong is too pricey.
"I would say street food prices here are bit too high compared to other Asian countries. I tried street foods here because I am a tourist and it is my first time visiting Korea. But I don't think I will come back to Myeong-dong for street food at this price next time I come to Seoul," Farah said.
Many foreign tourists, who are flocking to the iconic shopping district after the pandemic, are frustrated to find out how expensive street foods in Myeong-dong are.
The prices may show slight differences between vendors, but most of them sell three pieces of fried dumplings, a grilled chicken skewer and a stick of tornado potato for 5,000 won, each, on average.
Even considering the recent rise of street food prices in other commercial districts of Seoul, Myeong-dong still shows higher prices.
Next door in Namdaemun Market, vendors charge 5,000 won for six fried dumplings. In southern Seoul, one grilled chicken skewer costs 3,500 won, which is 30 percent cheaper than Myeong-dong.
A street vendor in Myeong-dong surnamed Lee said the street food prices are particularly high because the commercial district was hit harder than anywhere else during the pandemic.
"Myeong-dong was hit hardest by the COVID-19. We live mostly by selling street food to tourists and we had zero people coming to the district in the last three years. I think the prices are reasonable considering how much we suffered during the pandemic," Lee said.
Like Lee, many street vendors there argue that food inflation is inevitable due to the recent pandemic plus the war in Ukraine affecting the prices of ingredients. They also have to pay the local government 1 million won to 5 million won annually for exclusive use of the road.
Jung District Office said it cannot legally force street vendors to lower food prices. But it said it is recommending them to set reasonable prices for street foods that will not hurt tourism in the area.
source: The Korea Times