Debate is raging online over the price and portion size of a tteokbokki set sold at a water park in Gyeonggi Province.
At the center of the controversy is a 16,000 won ($13) 'cheese stick and tteokbokki set.' Photos shared online show two long rice cakes, two fish cake skewers, and one cheese stick served in a bowl. As the images circulated on social media, many reacted, questioning, "Isn't that too expensive, even for a water park?"
The uproar began on August 7 when a user, identified as A, shared their experience visiting the water park with their children. A stated that while enjoying the water attractions, they browsed the menu at an on-site restaurant and decided to order the tteokbokki set for 16,000 won.
Although the price was significantly higher than that of a typical snack shop, A explained that they accepted the higher cost due to the unique setting of the water park. The issue arose when they received the actual food.
A's posted photo revealed the two long rice cakes, two fish cakes on skewers, and one square cheese stick. A expressed dissatisfaction, noting a significant difference between the menu photo and the food they received.
As the post gained traction, online comments began to criticize not only the price but also the portion size and presentation of the food.
Users commented, "I know food at amusement parks and water parks is usually expensive, but I would be surprised by this presentation," and "Regardless of the price, the food looks poorly prepared for customers." Others suggested that if the rice cakes had been cut and served with vegetables, the controversy might not have escalated to this extent.
Given that water parks often attract families, some pointed out that the financial burden is even greater. Parents with multiple children can face significant costs just for meals and snacks.
Some users shared similar experiences. One commenter, who also visited the same water park, reported dissatisfaction with a 9,500 won ($7.50) udon dish, stating it was not worth the price.
The situation intensified when it was revealed that the facility prohibits bringing in outside food and beverages. This restriction means consumers are more likely to choose from the food sold inside, raising concerns about the price and quality being justifiable.
One user remarked, "If outside food were allowed, I could choose not to buy expensive items, but if I have to rely on the food inside, the situation changes."
On the other hand, some argued that since the price was clearly displayed, it was ultimately a matter of consumer choice. Some stated, "Since I confirmed the price of 16,000 won before ordering, it’s hard to criticize the establishment just for being expensive," and "We should consider that vendors in water parks may face higher rent and sales fees than regular shops." Others noted, "If you think it’s too expensive, you can choose not to buy it," echoing sentiments from related reports that suggested, "If it’s too expensive, just don’t buy it."
A few days later, a YouTuber reignited the debate by calculating the cost of ingredients. The YouTuber, known as ZeroB, who has around 980,000 subscribers, posted a video on August 16 where they recreated the controversial tteokbokki set as closely as possible to the original photo and calculated the ingredient costs.
ZeroB estimated the cost of the tteokbokki ingredients, including rice cakes and sauce, at about 537 won ($0.45), the fish cake skewers at approximately 873 won ($0.75), and the cheese stick at around 973 won ($0.85). The total ingredient cost was about 2,419 won ($2), which means the ingredient cost ratio based on the selling price of 16,000 won is about 15.1%.
ZeroB acknowledged that the visible ingredient cost ratio is somewhat low but explained that due to the unique market conditions of water parks, vendors might incur sales fees of 20-40%, making it difficult to achieve a 30% ingredient cost ratio like typical shops.
Ultimately, the most significant criticism online focused not just on the ingredient cost but whether the food's quantity and quality met consumer expectations for the 16,000 won price tag.
Users commented, "The percentage of ingredient cost isn’t the main issue," and "While I understand the high rent and labor costs, consumers also expect satisfaction that matches the price they pay." Others suggested that even a slight increase in portion size or an improvement in presentation could have prevented the issue from becoming such a hot topic.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the 16,000 won tteokbokki set highlights not just whether the price is legally considered high or low, but rather how consumers perceive the value they receive for the price paid. One thing is clear: when evaluating a dish, consumers consider more than just the cost of ingredients. They assess the price, portion size, taste, service, and the unique context of the location to determine whether the meal was worth the expense.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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