Recently, the cost of affordable meals like kimbap and hamburgers in South Korea has seen a sharp increase, with prices rising by about 40% over the past five years. This trend, termed 'lunch-flation' (a combination of lunch and inflation), reveals how lunchtime costs are rising more rapidly than overall consumer prices. This increase is attributed to factors like higher ingredient and labor costs, exacerbated by global issues such as climate change and currency fluctuations. Consequently, consumers are finding even supposed cost-effective options like cafeteria food becoming pricier, contributing to a growing financial burden for those eating out.
