Lunch Costs Hit 10,000 Won: Workers Strain as Midday Meals Become Pricier
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Rising dining prices have pushed average workplace lunch spending in South Korea to about 9,000–10,000 won, up from the previous 4,000–6,000 won range. Workers increasingly choose cheap convenience options like convenience store dosirak (ready-made boxed meals), cup noodles and sandwiches, while younger employees favor salads and meal-prep for nutrition. Employees at companies with cafeterias show steadier patterns, but those at smaller firms without cafeterias are more price-sensitive. Many say lunch used to be a valuable break from work, yet time and cost pressures have made relaxed lunches harder; solo eating (honbap) and quick, near-office meals are rising. Employers are responding by expanding meal subsidies or improving cafeteria services, reflecting how the ‘10,000 won lunch’ trend is reshaping daily routines, consumption habits and workplace culture.
