Salt bread costs 990 won in Japan and 3,000 won in South Korea; bread prices higher than the cost of ingredients

Getty Images. Lee Ji-eun (25), an office worker living in Busan, saw that the price of garlic bread at a famous bakery had recently risen from 4,000 won to 5,000 won. She was planning to buy two, but chose only one. Mr. Lee sighed, saying, “The price of bread has risen so much that just choosing two or three breads easily costs more than the price of a normal meal.” ‘Bread inflation’ (bread + inflation) is occurring as the prices of raw materials used in baking, such as raw milk, sugar, salt, and whipped cream, are soaring. Korean bread is expensive internationally, and consumer dissatisfaction is growing due to recent price increases. Recently, the price of bread has been rising regardless of whether it is a local bakery or a franchise. Bakery A in Gwanak-gu, Seoul raised the price of red bean bread by about 9% from 2,200 won to 2,400 won last year, and Bakery B in Mapo-gu, Seoul raised the price of mammoth bread from 5,800 won to 6,700 won (16%). Starbucks refurbished (renewed) ...