Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations

Room 701, Seoul YWCA, 1-1, Myeongdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul,

TEL +82-02-774-4050, FAX +82-02-774-4090

Press Release

Effecitive Date	: Sep 30, 2011
Dept. in Charge	: Secretary-General Choi Soo-gyung
	: Assistant Administrator Lee Sun-hwa
Tel	: +82-02-770-4050

KNCCO surveyed dining out expenses and haircuts and beauty care service prices in October and announced the survey results

The Korean National Council of Consumer Organizations (KNCCO) (President Kim Jae-ok) released the price survey results of dining out expenses and haircuts and beauty care services in major commercial districts nationwide, so that consumers can cope with high prices through their rational choices of haircuts and beauty care services. This is the second set of survey results since August 31.

This survey was carried out by 200 surveyors of 10 member organizations of KNCCO (Consumers Korea, The Green Consumer Network, The Korea Federation of Housewives Clubs, The National Council of Homemakers' Classes, The Korea Housewives Association HQ, The Korea Consumer Affairs Institute, The Korea Consumers Education Institute, Consumers Union of Korea, The Korea National YMCA Federation, and The National YWCA of Korea) targeting 8 items, Seolleongtang, Kimchi stew, Jajang noodles, cold noodles, Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), and Samgyeopsal. All of which are sold from a total of 2,567 businesses (1,923 restaurants and 644 barbershops and beauty salons) in 40 major commercial districts in 21 cities nationwide.

The Prices of Kalguksu and Jajang Noodles fell in September, compared to August, and the overall prices of haircuts and beauty care services were on the decline

As a result of this price survey, the dining out expenses in the commercial district of Jongro-gu, and then Seoul Yeongdeungpo, Busan Haewoondae-gu, Gyeonggi Goyang city, and Jeonnam Mokpo were the highest in that exact order. The haircut and beauty care service prices of Seoul Shincheon, Seoul Myeong-dong, Gyeonggi-do Goyang, and Seoul Shinchon were the highest in that exact order.

Among the 6 survey items for dining out expenses, the items whose prices rose and fell, were 3 items, respectively, as compared to the previous month.

As a result of the prices survey in September in comparison to August, the average price of Kimchi stew rose from KW 5,377 to KRW 5,480, up by KRW 103, from August to September. The average price of Samgyeopsal went up from KRW 10,202 in August to KRW 10,388 in September, which was up by KRW 186. The price of Seolleongtang increased from KRW 6,644 in August to KRW 6,666 in September, which was up by KRW 22.

Meanwhile, the price of Kalguksu fell from KRW 5,341 in August to KRW 5,258 in September, which was down by KRW 83. The price of Jajang noodles slid from KRW 4,331 in August to KRW 4,309 in September, which was down by KW 22. The price of cold noodles dropped from KRW 5,642 in August to KRW 5,630 in September, which was down by KRW 12.

The price of hair dye and perms fell by KRW 994 and KRW 882, respectively, in September in comparison to August

The average prices of haircuts and beauty care service dropped overall: Women's hair dye price fell from KRW 38,738 in August to KRW 37,744 in September, which was down by KRW 994. The price of a set perm decreased from KRW 60,477 in August to KRW 59,595 in September, which was down by KRW 882. Men's hair dye price went down from KRW 28,764 to KRW 28,405, which was down by KRW 359. Women's hairdressing price fell from KRW 12,665 to KRW 12,540, which was down by KRW 125.

The business establishments offering the lowest prices nationwide: Guk Jjigaeya in Sadang Seoul for Suleongtang, and 2,000 Jajang in Donggae-gu Busan for Jajang noodles

The business establishments offering the lowest prices nationwide in this survey (excluding the cases of selling or offering under special conditions or in emergency) are as follows:

▸ Seolleongtang (KRW 3,500) – Guk Jjigaeya in Seoul Sadang ▸Kimchi stew (KRW 3,000) – Train Track Grilled Fresh Beef in Sinchon Seoul, Taesan Ttukbaegi in Busan Jin-gu

▸Jajang noodles (KRW 2,000) – Bohwajang in Jongro-gu Seoul, 2000 Jajang in Dongrae-gu Busan, Shanghai Chinese Restaurant and Jungsung Chinese Restaurant in Gumi ▸Cold noodles (KRW 3,500) – Huge Bowl Cold Noodles in Konkuk University Station Seoul, Sewonjung in Jin-gu Busan, Sura Cold Noodles in Seongnam, Yeongcheon Kudzu Cold Noodles in Cheonan ▸Kakguksu (KRW 2,500) – Seoul Kalguksu in Jin-gu Busan

▸Samgyeopsal (KRW 3,800) – Samgyeop Era in Buk-gu Busan

▸Men's haircuts (KRW 3,500) – Ire Barbershop, Pagoda Barbershop, Jongmyo Barbershop in Jongro Seoul

▸Men's hair dye (KRW 4,000) – Kim Ji Yeon Hair in Sadang Seoul, Goejung Men's Cut in Jin-gu Busan

▸Women's hairdressing (KRW 4,000) – Lee Ae Ja Beauty Salon in Haewoondae-gu Busan

▸Women's hair dye (KRW 10,000) – Masa Hair in Konkuk University Seoul, Gyeong Hair Salon in Cheonan

▸General perm (KRW 15,000) – Misarang Hair in Sadang Seoul, Myungshim Beauty Salon in Suyu Seoul, Princess Hairshop in Jin-gu Busan, Dahye Beauty Salon and Dongyang Hair Salon in Suyeong-gu Busan, Lee Ae Ja Beauty Parlor in Haewoondae-gu Busan, Hair Gallery Beauty Parlor in Bupyeong/Dongam Incheon, Gyeong Hair Salon in Cheonan

KNCCO to actively cope with and continuously monitor unfair price hikes

KNCCO plans to conduct the a price survey that targets the same business establishments in the same commercial districts in October as well, based on the price surveys in August and September. KNCCO will also release the survey results continuously, and offer the relevant information to the consumers.

Meanwhile, KNCCO plans to actively cope with the business establishments that unfairly raise prices in cooperation with local governments and relevant agencies, according to the survey results. KNCCO plans to encourage and support the business establishments that continuously offer low prices but high quality services.

< Group Members >

Consumers Korea, Korea Federation of Housewives Clubs, National Council of Homemakers' Classes, Korea Women's Association, Korea Consumer Affairs Institute, Korea Consumers Education Center, Consumers Union of Korea, YMCA Korea, National YWCA of Korea, Green Consumers Network in Korea