{
  "id": 19617021,
  "title": "Once a cheap meal, gimbap sees steepest price hike in Seoul",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/once-a-cheap-meal-gimbap-sees-steepest-price-hike-in-seoul",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T07:22:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20261112/once-a-cheap-meal-gimbap-sees-steepest-price-hike-in-seoul"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gimbap, a traditional Korean meal made of rice and vegetables wrapped in seaweed, has experienced the most significant price increase among popular dining options in Seoul this year. The average cost of a single roll reached 3,923 won ($2.80) in September, a 5.4 percent rise from December 2022 when it cost 3,723 won. This surge was the most notable among eight commonly consumed dishes tracked by the Korea Consumer Agency, including naengmyeon, bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, samgyeopsal, jjajangmyeon, samgyetang, kalguksu, and gimbap. Many gimbap chains now offer even a basic roll for over 4,000 won, with prices at well-known franchises like Gimgane and Kobongmin exceeding 5,000 won. While bibimbap recorded the second-largest price increase, gimbap remains the most affected by the recent price hike.",
  "summary": "Gimbap, long considered an affordable meal in Korea, has seen the steepest price increase among popular dining options in Seoul this year, with the average price of a roll approaching 4,000 won ($2.80), up more than 5 percent from the end of last year. According to data released Wednesday by the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal, Champrice, the average price of a roll of gimbap in…",
  "key_points": [
    "Gimbap price increased 5.4% to 3,923 won in September",
    "Most notable price hike among eight tracked dishes",
    "Basic gimbap now over 4,000 won at major franchises"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rapid escalation of gimbap costs signals a shift for a once-affordable staple, placing the heaviest inflationary burden on a primary meal option for Seoul's everyday consumers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}