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| A driver delivers food by scooter in Seoul in this 2022 file photo. Yonhap |
By Kim Jae-heun
A 32-year-old office worker surnamed Han orders food from online delivery platforms three times a week. Restaurant reviews used to be her first consideration when placing online food orders, but now, she checks the delivery fee first.
"It's crazy how much you have to pay for delivery when ordering from certain restaurants these days. I've seen some stores charge up to 7,000 won ($5.40). I will never pay that amount, even if I want to order from my favorite restaurant," Han said.
A 27-year-old barista surnamed Lee recently fixed his settings on an online food delivery platform to list restaurants with the cheapest delivery fees on top.
"I am not going to order food from stores that charge a maximum delivery fee on the platform. Sometimes delivery fees are nearly half the price of the food I order. I don't understand it," Lee said.
According to the "2022-2023 Domestic and Foreign Restaurant Trend" report released by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on Monday, 21.1 percent of survey participants consisting of 1,267 consumers and 582 restaurant workers said food price is the biggest factor when choosing a restaurant.
Delivery fee followed with 15.1 percent in second, reviews with 14.7 percent in third and menu variety with 12.4 percent in fourth place.
It is a significant change considering that 23.7 percent of survey participants last year chose reviews as the most important factor.
The survey showed that rising dining costs and delivery fees have changed consumer habits.
Also, 57.8 percent of the survey participants said delivery fees have been too expensive lately and 34.6 percent said they are slightly too expensive. Only 6.8 percent said prices are satisfactory. In most of the cases, people paid 3,000 won per delivery last year when ordering food online.
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