The Era of ₩5,700 Big Macs and ₩3,800 Gimbap: How the Weak Won Is Shaking Korea's Dining Prices

🖼️ No Images Available — Real-time materials related to dining prices (restaurant price lists, receipts, etc.) cannot be used directly due to copyright and privacy concerns. Please refer to the source links at the bottom of this post to view the original reports.

Why you need to read this one line: As the weak won drives up the cost of imported raw materials, the prices of the foods we encounter most often in daily life are rising simultaneously.

TL;DR

• McDonald's raised prices on 35 menu items by an average of 2.4% starting February 20 — Big Mac single item now ₩5,700
• Burger King also raised hamburger and beverage prices by ₩100–200 starting February 12
• Seoul gimbap average ₩3,800 (up +7.4% year-over-year), pork belly 200g at ₩21,056 (+3.8%)
• Common cause: Weak won + rising imported raw material costs (wheat, cooking oil, beef) + higher logistics costs
• As long as the high exchange rate persists, upward pressure on dining prices is expected to continue

The Facts: What Has Gone Up and By How Much

McDonald's Korea raised prices on 35 single-item menu categories by a minimum of ₩100 to a maximum of ₩400 starting February 20, 2026. The most iconic item, the Big Mac single, went from ₩5,500 to ₩5,700 (+₩200), while the set meal rose from ₩7,400 to ₩7,600. This marks the first price adjustment in 11 months, with the company citing "the impact of the high exchange rate and rising raw material costs."

Burger King had already raised prices starting February 12. Key items including the Whopper and beverages went up by ₩100–200.

It's not just fast food. According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal, the average price of gimbap in Seoul last month was ₩3,800 (up +7.4% year-over-year, +2.0% month-over-month). Pork belly 200g averaged ₩21,056, up 3.8% compared to the previous year.

Drivers: Why Prices Are All Rising at Once

1. The Ripple Effect of the Weak Won

With the KRW/USD exchange rate stuck above ₩1,400 for an extended period, the cost of imported-dependent commodities — wheat, cooking oil, cheese, and beef — has taken a direct hit. Domestic food companies have been absorbing rising import costs internally for some time, but the accumulated pressure has begun to exceed a critical threshold.

2. Unstable International Grain Prices

In 2026, climate anomalies have again raised uncertainty in grain supply and demand. Concerns over harvests in major wheat-exporting countries have stimulated futures prices, which are now feeding through into domestic dining costs with a time lag.

3. Minimum Wage Hike + Logistics Costs

While the 2026 minimum wage increase has raised labor costs in the restaurant industry, a simultaneous rise in logistics costs driven by higher fuel prices has compounded the problem. This "triple squeeze (raw materials + labor + logistics)" forms the backdrop for price hikes.

Context and Background

Korea's dining prices surged in the wake of the 2022–2023 global inflation, then stabilized temporarily in 2024. However, from the second half of 2025, as the won weakened again, the mechanism of passing on imported raw material costs has been reactivated.

Notably, McDonald's prices serve as a 'barometer of everyday living costs.' Some analysts argue that price hikes by multinational fast food chains like McDonald's have a symbolic effect on domestic consumer sentiment, subsequently functioning as a 'permission signal' that justifies price increases at smaller snack bars and Korean restaurants.

Outlook: How Much Higher Can Prices Go?

• Short-term (1–3 months): As long as the exchange rate remains at current levels (around ₩1,400), room for further increases remains. Additional pressure may emerge after March as ingredient demand rises ahead of the spring season.
• Medium-term (6 months): If the Bank of Korea's rate-cutting stance continues to sustain downward pressure on the won, dining prices are likely to remain on an upward trend throughout the first half of the year.
• Risk: If consumer pullback and price hikes occur simultaneously, small-scale restaurant owners could suffer even greater damage. The dilemma of "raise prices and lose customers, don't raise and lose money" is set to intensify.

Checklist: Action Points for Consumers and Business Owners

Reference Links

• McDonald's Korea Raises Prices on 35 Menu Items — Dong-A Ilbo (2026.02.19)
• Plenty of 'Ingredients' for Price Hikes… Hamburgers, Gimbap and More Rise in Succession — JoongAng Ilbo
• From gimbap to hamburgers, ingredient costs surge on weak won — Korea JoongAng Daily

Image note: This post is text-only as real-time images from dining establishments were unavailable (copyright and business consent required).