South Korea's viral food trends send key ingredient prices up nearly 70%

A general view of plated "Dubai-style" chewy chocolate cookies in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 20, 2026. Photo by AFP

According to The Korea Times, the Korea Price Information (KPI) reported that the price of 500 grams of kadayif rose from 18,900 won (US$12.6) to 31,800 won after Dubai chewy cookies (a chocolate dessert filled with kadayif and pistachio spread) went viral in late 2025.

The figure for 400 grams of pistachios climbed 33.3%, from 18,000 won to 24,000 won.

"When I checked online for the ingredients, the prices were about 1.5 times what I remembered, and some were sold out with delivery taking up to two weeks," said office worker Kim Min Sun, who initially wanted to try making the treat herself but later changed her mind.

Kim later wanted to try another trending dish, bomdong bibimbap (rice with seasoned spring cabbage), but was quickly warned by her mother that the price of cabbage was unusually high.

The KPI confirmed that since bomdong bibimbap’s social media fame, spring cabbage price rose 33.3%, from 4,500 won per kilogram to 6,000 won.

Imports of key ingredients have also surged. According to The Korea Herald, pistachio imports rose to 372 metric tons in December 2025, up from 93 tons in August, while the import price per ton nearly doubled from $8,800 to $16,800. Kadayif prices jumped about 85%, from 13,000 won per kilogram late last year to roughly 24,000 won.

Analysts attribute the spike in part to major corporations stockpiling large quantities of ingredients.

The price increases extend beyond raw ingredients. Ready-made versions of these trending dishes have risen sharply, anywhere from 50% to 116.7%.

A similar phenomenon occurred in 2023 with tanghulu (sugar-coated fruit skewers) that became popular after going viral on TikTok and YouTube. As demand surged, both the cost of fruit and retail prices rose dramatically.

KPI researcher Lee Dong Hoon explained to The Korea Times: "As certain dishes spread rapidly through social media, demand for their ingredients becomes concentrated within a short period of time. This phenomenon can lead to sharp price increases and supply instability, thus increasing volatility in the market."

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