Folks benefit from the Seoul Worldwide Fireworks Competition at a park in Yeouido, Oct. 7, 2023. Korea Occasions picture by Park Simon
Fireworks ship lodging, meal costs hovering as excessive as tenfold
By KTimes
Because the Seoul Worldwide Fireworks Competition on Oct. 5 nears, motels and eating places round Yeouido have raised their costs dramatically, with lodging and meals providing fireworks views surging to as a lot as 10 instances the same old charges.
Most high-floor rooms in motels round Yeouido, generally known as prime viewing spots for the fireworks, are totally booked, based on officers from the hospitality business, Friday.
At one resort in Yeouido, a set with a Han River view is priced at 3 million gained ($2,200) per evening. A typical deluxe room, which generally prices round 600,000 gained on a weekend, has doubled to 1.2 million gained for the evening of the pageant.
A resort in Yongsan is providing a package deal that features a room with a fireworks view and a dinner buffet for 2, priced at 760,000 gained. On an everyday weekend, the identical room, with out dinner, may be booked for round 300,000 gained.
The value will increase are much more pronounced in eating places. A buffet restaurant alongside the Han River, thought of a main spot for viewing the fireworks, has opted to just accept solely company who buy a pageant package deal.
A VIP desk for 2 by the window prices 599,000 gained, whereas a desk farther from the window is priced at 499,000 gained for 2.
For comparability, the restaurant’s common weekend and vacation lunch costs are 29,900 gained per particular person or 59,800 gained for 2. The package deal features a steak and limitless draft beer.
The 2023 Seoul Worldwide Fireworks Competition takes place in Yeouido, Oct. 7, 2023. Korea Occasions picture by Shim Hyun-chul
An Italian restaurant by the Han River has additionally launched particular pricing for the fireworks pageant. A package deal providing solely seating, wine and catering (with no meal) prices 280,000 gained per particular person, whereas a full-course dinner package deal is priced at 380,000 gained per particular person. Usually, a meal at this restaurant would value between 20,000 to 30,000 gained per particular person.
Eating places inside the 63 Constructing have equally hiked costs for his or her pageant packages. One restaurant is charging 132,000 gained per particular person for a dinner course at seats with no fireworks view, however seats with a view are promoting for over 300,000 gained per particular person.
As costs for motels and eating places with good views skyrocket, many have criticized the aggressive pricing ways.
On-line feedback replicate public frustration, with some saying, “It looks as if each pageant is simply an excuse to gouge prospects,” “The identical complaints floor yearly, however nothing adjustments,” and “Demand might justify some worth will increase, however that is extreme.”
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Occasions.
