How much did an average roll of gimbap cost in Seoul in September, and how much had its price increased?

The average reached 3,923 won, compared with 3,723 won in December last year. That was a 5.4 percent increase, the largest among the eight popular Seoul dining options tracked.

Why are gimbap and bibimbap prices rising in Korea?

The increases are believed to be driven by rising costs for key ingredients, including eggs and rice. The article does not quantify how much each ingredient contributed to the price changes.

How did September price changes for gimbap compare with other dining-out items tracked nationally?

Among 39 dining-out items tracked by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, lunch boxes rose 8.4 percent year on year, gimbap rose 4.9 percent and sashimi rose 4.5 percent. Hamburger prices fell 1.6 percent, pizza prices were unchanged, and coffee prices rose 0.2 percent.

Once a cheap meal, gimbap sees steepest price hike in Seoul

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Summary

Gimbap prices in Seoul rose to an average of 3,923 won per roll in September, the steepest increase among eight popular dining options tracked this year. The price was up 5.4 percent from December last year, and basic rolls at many chains now cost more than 4,000 won. Rising costs for key ingredients such as eggs and rice are believed to have contributed to increases in gimbap and bibimbap prices.

Key Facts

The Korea Consumer Agency’s Champrice portal recorded Seoul gimbap prices at 3,723 won in December last year and 3,923 won in September.
Bibimbap had the second-largest increase among the eight tracked dishes, rising 3.7 percent from 11,577 won to 12,000 won.
Gimgane rolls typically cost more than 5,000 won, while rolls at Kobongmin and Teacher Kim typically cost more than 4,000 won.
Among 39 dining-out items tracked by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, lunch boxes had the highest year-on-year price increase in September at 8.4 percent, followed by gimbap at 4.9 percent and sashimi at 4.5 percent.
Hamburger prices fell 1.6 percent year on year in September, pizza prices were unchanged, and coffee prices rose 0.2 percent.

By Hankookilbo

Published Nov 12, 2026 4:19 pm KST

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 Seoul reached 3,923 won in September, up 5.4 percent from 3,723 won in December last year.

This was the largest increase among eight popular dining options tracked in Seoul: naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables), kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew), samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), kalguksu (hand-cut noodles) and gimbap.

At many gimbap chains, even a basic roll already costs more than 4,000 won. Prices vary by location, but a roll typically costs more than 5,000 won at well-known franchises like Gimgane and more than 4,000 won at Kobongmin and Teacher Kim.

Bibimbap recorded the second-largest price increase, rising 3.7 percent from 11,577 won in December last year to 12,000 won in September.

It was followed by samgyeopsal, up 2.3 percent; kimchi jjigae at 2.2 percent; jjajangmyeon at 2.0 percent; naengmyeon and samgyetang at 1.5 percent each; and kalguksu, up 1.2 percent.

The relatively sharp increases in gimbap and bibimbap prices are believed to have been driven by rising costs for key ingredients like eggs and rice.

Among the 39 dining-out items tracked by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, lunch boxes recorded the highest year-on-year price increase in September at 8.4 percent, followed by gimbap at 4.9 percent and sashimi at 4.5 percent.

In contrast, hamburger prices fell 1.6 percent over the same period, while pizza prices remained unchanged and coffee prices rose just 0.2 percent.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

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