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I’m visiting Myeong-dong again in 2023</h2> <div><h3>Why am I visiting Myeong-dong again in 2023?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*h2bSVqr7WDDz8_QooccuHg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="b852">But if you were to ask me again this time, it would be a big “no.”</p><p id="db63"><i>Why?</i></p><blockquote id="0f74"><p>Because food prices there are for tourists.</p></blockquote><p id="9b59">If you’ve never been to Myeong-dong before, it’s good to take a stroll and snap lots of pictures.</p><p id="dd0c">But I wouldn’t recommend you to “waste” your precious travel budget there.</p><p id="1122">If you don’t believe me, just go on TikTok and see the reviews of people who’ve been there and done that.</p><p id="07bc">The local news backs me up by saying that at Namdaemun Market near Myeong-dong, vendors charge 5,000 KRW for 6 fried dumplings.</p><p id="0413">While in southern Seoul, you can find a grilled chicken skewer that costs 3,500 KRW, which is 30% cheaper than Myeong-dong.</p><p id="04dc" type="7">“I would say street food prices here are (a) bit too high compared to other Asian countries. I tried street foods here because I am a tourist and it is my first time visiting Korea. But I don’t think I will come back to Myeong-dong for street food at this price next time I come to Seoul,” Farah from

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Canada said.</p><p id="a8dd">So what are the authorities doing regarding this?</p><p id="869e">Well, the Jung District Office mentioned that they aren’t able to “force” street vendors to adjust food prices but will be recommending them to set proper prices that will not affect tourism flow in the long run.</p><p id="4f6d">But many street vendors claim that <b>food inflation is unavoidable</b> because of the recent epidemic and the war in Ukraine, which has an impact on the cost of ingredients.</p><p id="e6e3">Additionally for exclusive use of the street, they must also pay the local government between 1 million and 5 million KRW annually.</p><p id="d922">So will prices change to reflect the current situation?</p><p id="ecd6">I doubt so, but, we shall see.</p><p id="cce1">Read more Korea-related stories here 👇👇👇</p><div id="b75e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@celesteelle/list/79e6b1e6557e"> <div> <div> <h2>All Things Korea & Korean 🇰🇷</h2> <div><h3>Edit description</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*9dc4f8cd0b2d70d90aa1fdae40ecd2f94bd21ba5.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="ef45" type="7">If you’re seeing this as a video, find my full post here:</p><p id="9b50" type="7">medium.com/@celesteelle</p></article></body>

It’s not just me who thinks Myeong-dong’s food prices are insane

Image Credits: blog.naver.com/licreart

I was back in Myeongdong in May 2023 and it looks nothing like it was during the pandemic.

The streets were filled with tourists, and there are even more food stalls than there were before.

I even wrote this in February 2023 because I’ve seen Myeong-dong at its worst and can’t wait for things to return to the norm again:

But if you were to ask me again this time, it would be a big “no.”

Why?

Because food prices there are for tourists.

If you’ve never been to Myeong-dong before, it’s good to take a stroll and snap lots of pictures.

But I wouldn’t recommend you to “waste” your precious travel budget there.

If you don’t believe me, just go on TikTok and see the reviews of people who’ve been there and done that.

The local news backs me up by saying that at Namdaemun Market near Myeong-dong, vendors charge 5,000 KRW for 6 fried dumplings.

While in southern Seoul, you can find a grilled chicken skewer that costs 3,500 KRW, which is 30% cheaper than Myeong-dong.

“I would say street food prices here are (a) bit too high compared to other Asian countries. I tried street foods here because I am a tourist and it is my first time visiting Korea. But I don’t think I will come back to Myeong-dong for street food at this price next time I come to Seoul,” Farah from Canada said.

So what are the authorities doing regarding this?

Well, the Jung District Office mentioned that they aren’t able to “force” street vendors to adjust food prices but will be recommending them to set proper prices that will not affect tourism flow in the long run.

But many street vendors claim that food inflation is unavoidable because of the recent epidemic and the war in Ukraine, which has an impact on the cost of ingredients.

Additionally for exclusive use of the street, they must also pay the local government between 1 million and 5 million KRW annually.

So will prices change to reflect the current situation?

I doubt so, but, we shall see.

Read more Korea-related stories here 👇👇👇

If you’re seeing this as a video, find my full post here:

medium.com/@celesteelle

Korea
South Korea
Seoul
Travel Tips
Food And Drink
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