Cheap boxed lunch sales rise amid growing ‘lunchflation‘

With South Korea’s consumer prices jumping a whopping 6 percent in June from a year earlier, many workers here are contemplating cheaper options, including takeout boxed lunch, instead of eating out.

South Korean boxed lunch takeout chain Hansot Dosirak said Tuesday that its sales in restaurants near Seoul’s office clusters rose by 23 percent during lunch hours in June compared to the same month last year.

On the back of workers experiencing “lunchflation,” the takeout chain underwent a 15 percent increase in sales across its locations nationwide, with its cheapest menu, priced at 3,200 won ($2.44), selling the most, according to company data.

“I used to eat lunch at a local Korean or Chinese place near my office, but now I settle for takeout boxed lunches. It costs almost 3,000 to 5,000 won less,” said an office employee working in Jung-gu, central Seoul. He added that the prices for eating out were “crazy.”

According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price for jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) rose 10 percent in Seoul as of June, compared to December last year. Meanwhile, Naengmyeon (cold noodles) and gimbap rose 5.5 and 7.8 percent, respectively.

“We have some frequent customers who come in more than three times a week,” said an official from Hansot.

“More employees choose to eat cost-effective boxed lunches, as the price for eating out keeps increasing and becomes burdensome,” the official added.

By Lee Seung-ku (seungku99@heraldcorp.com)