In the daily ritual of life, few things feel as ordinary, as humble, as bread. And yet, in South Korea, this most basic staple has become a symbol of imbalance in the market and society.
According to Numbeo’s global cost of living survey (September 2025), the average price of 500 grams of bread in Korea is $2.98 (about 4,150 KRW), ranking 10th highest in the world. Among Asian nations, Korea takes the top spot, with bread nearly twice as expensive as in Japan ($1.51). In fact, a simple small roll that sells for about 120 yen ($1.13) in Japan often costs 3,000–4,000 KRW ($2.20–$3.00) in Seoul bakeries — nearly four times higher.
The inflation is not only in perception. Korea’s bread consumer price index in August 2025 reached 138.55 (2020=100), a rise of 38.5% in just five years. During the same period, overall processed food prices rose only 4.1% year-on-year, while bread surged 6.4%. The imbalance is striking.
Some attribute the surge to flour and sugar costs, or to labor expenses. But the explanation is thin. The “breadflation” phenomenon has gone far beyond raw material prices, leading even the Fair Trade Commission to consider interventions.
And so, bread has become more than food. It is a mirror, reflecting distrust in pricing systems, a widening sense of unfairness, and perhaps the irony of prosperity — where even the humble loaf demands luxury prices.
