CreatripTeam

As winter snacks return to Korean streets, vendors face steep ingredient price rises. Domestic red beans used in popular fish-shaped pancakes (붕어빵, bungeoppang) have more than doubled versus five years ago due to climate-related crop losses, pushing sellers to raise prices from “3 for 2,000 won” to often “1 for 1,000 won.” Flour, butter and roasted sweet potato (군고구마, gun-goguma) costs are also up, squeezing small vendors’ margins despite rising retail demand. Convenience store chains are expanding sales while keeping price hikes small through bulk distribution.