Sweltering heat takes toll on restaurants, cafes and bars

Seoul is grappling with a severe heat wave, leading to a decline in patronage for restaurants, cafes, and bars. The persistent high temperatures have prompted office workers to opt for food delivery rather than dining out, resulting in a significant drop in sales for local businesses. Employees of a securities firm in Yeouido have resorted to ordering food for group lunches to avoid the heat and maintain energy levels.

Similarly, many colleagues are heading home promptly after work, foregoing social gatherings at establishments. The commercial district vitality index in Yeouido dropped by 5.8 percent between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, while the commercial activity rate in the Jonggak Station area plummeted 28.9 percent from the previous week.

The Gangnam Station area experienced a 12 percent decline. The data highlights a 29.7 percent decrease in Yeouido's commercial vitality index compared to the prior week, with similar significant drops in Gangnam, Gwanghwamun, and Jonggak stations. The trend of increased food delivery orders, reported by platform Baemin, has counterbalanced the reduction in dine-in customers, with a 6 percent rise in orders between July 29 and Wednesday.