Alleged Overcharging at Busan Chinatown Festival Draws Public Backlash
BUSAN, Nov. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — A restaurant in Busan’s Chinatown has come under scrutiny after a festivalgoer accused it of overcharging for a popular Chinese dish, sparking yet another public debate over price gouging in tourist areas.
The controversy began when a visitor posted online that a plate of guobaorou (sweet and sour pork) cost 22,000 won for ten pieces, calling it unreasonably expensive. The post went viral on social media and was soon picked up by local media, fueling anger over alleged profiteering during the cultural festival.
The restaurant owner denied the claim, saying prices had actually been reduced for the event. “We normally sell the same portion for 25,000 won,” the owner said. “Most restaurants in the area maintain similar pricing.” The owner added that a relative helping during the busy festival clashed with the customer, for which the restaurant apologized.
The incident comes amid a string of similar controversies across the country, including hotels in Gyeongju that drastically raised room rates ahead of last month’s APEC summit and food stalls in Busan selling skewered fish cakes for 3,000 won apiece.
Experts say these repeated disputes have eroded trust between consumers and local businesses. “After so many similar cases, consumers have developed a default suspicion that anything at a festival might be overpriced,” said Kwon Jang-wook, a tourism professor at Dongseo University.
Rising inflation has further deepened the divide. Many small business owners say they are forced to raise prices due to higher ingredient and rent costs, while visitors increasingly demand transparency and fairness.
Tourism experts suggest that local governments introduce clearer pricing standards and monitoring systems to rebuild trust. “Last year’s Yeongdo Bridge Festival deployed a monitoring team for unfair pricing, and even their presence helped restore confidence,” said Oh Chang-ho, a professor at Youngsan University.
He and others warn that short-term profiteering can damage a region’s long-term reputation. “Merchants must remember that overcharging might bring quick profit today but drive visitors away tomorrow,” Kwon said.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
