1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson discusses the rising prices of consumer goods in South Korea, particularly in the food and beverage industry. The article examines the factors contributing to this trend, such as the economic downturn and the impact of recent political events.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 물가 | mulgga | prices | 장바구니 물가가 치솟고 있다. (Prices of goods in shopping baskets are soaring.) |
| 지난해 | jinnanhae | last year | 지난해 정부의 압박에 가격 인상을 자제해오던 식품업체들은 (Food companies that had refrained from raising prices under government pressure last year…) |
| 가격 | gagyeok | price | 제품 가격을 줄줄이 올렸다. (Raised product prices one after another.) |
| 12월 | sibidwol | December | 지난해 12월 계엄 사태 이후 이어진 탄핵 정국의 혼란기에 (During the confusion of the impeachment crisis that followed the state of emergency in December of last year) |
| 이후 | ihu | after, thereafter | 지난해 12월 계엄 사태 이후 이어진 탄핵 정국의 혼란기에 (During the confusion of the impeachment crisis that followed the state of emergency in December of last year) |
| 식품 | sipbum | food | 식품·외식업체들은 제품 가격을 줄줄이 올렸다. (Food and restaurant companies raised their product prices one after another.) |
| 가공식품 | gagwojsipbum | processed food | 가공식품값이 4.1% 상승해 전체 소비자물가 지수 상승률(2.1%)을 훨씬 상회했다. (The price of processed foods rose by 4.1%, far exceeding the overall consumer price index increase of 2.1%.) |
| 상승률 | sangseuneullyo | rate of increase | 참기름(13.3%), 즉석죽(13.2%), 간장(12.4%) 등도 10%대의 높은 가격상승률을 기록했다. (Sesame oil (13.3%), instant porridge (13.2%), and soy sauce (12.4%) also recorded double-digit price increase rates.) |
| 지수 | jisu | index | 전체 소비자물가 지수 상승률(2.1%)을 훨씬 상회했다. (Far exceeded the overall consumer price index increase of 2.1%.) |
| 전년 | jeonnyeon | previous year | 가공식품 물가의 전년 대비 상승률은 지난해 11월만 해도 1.3%였다. (The year-on-year increase in processed food prices was only 1.3% as of last November.) |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
경기 침체 속에 식품기업들의 가격 인상이 이어지며 장바구니 물가가 치솟고 있다. 지난해 정부의 압박에 가격 인상을 자제해오던 식품업체들은 지난해 12월 계엄 사태 이후 이어진 탄핵 정국의 혼란기에 제품 가격을 줄줄이 올렸다.
The prices of goods in shopping baskets are soaring as food companies continue to raise prices amid the economic downturn. Food companies that had refrained from raising prices under government pressure last year raised their product prices one after another during the confusion of the impeachment crisis that followed the state of emergency in December of last year.
가격을 인상한 식품·외식업체는 최근 6개월간 60곳이 넘는다. 지난 4월 소비자가 많이 구매하는 식품 34개 품목 중 24개의 가격이 1년 전보다 평균 7.1% 올랐다. 참기름(13.3%), 즉석죽(13.2%), 간장(12.4%) 등도 10%대의 높은 가격상승률을 기록했다.
More than 60 food and restaurant companies have raised their prices in the past 6 months. In April, the prices of 24 out of 34 food items commonly purchased by consumers increased by an average of 7.1% compared to a year earlier. Sesame oil (13.3%), instant porridge (13.2%), and soy sauce (12.4%) also recorded double-digit price increase rates.
지난 4월 통계청의 소비자물가 동향에 따르면 가공식품값이 4.1% 상승해 전체 소비자물가 지수 상승률(2.1%)을 훨씬 상회하면서 전체 물가를 0.35%포인트 끌어올렸다. 가공식품 물가의 전년 대비 상승률은 지난해 11월만 해도 1.3%였다.
According to the April consumer price trends from Statistics Korea, the price of processed foods rose by 4.1%, far exceeding the overall consumer price index increase of 2.1% and contributing 0.35 percentage points to the overall price increase. The year-on-year increase in processed food prices was only 1.3% as of last November.
“비싼 ‘아아’ 대신 마셨는데 너마저”라며 소비자들의 불만이 높아지고 있다. 장바구니 물가 상승으로 서민들의 생활이 더욱 어려워지고 있는 것이다.
Consumers are expressing increasing discontent, saying “I drank the expensive ‘iced Americano’ instead, and now even that is getting more expensive.” The rise in shopping basket prices is making life even more difficult for ordinary people.
경기 침체와 물가 상승이 겹치면서 서민들의 삶의 질이 크게 악화되고 있다. 정부는 물가 안정을 위해 다양한 대책을 마련하고 있지만, 현실적으로 단기간에 해결하기는 쉽지 않은 상황이다.
As the economic downturn and rising prices overlap, the quality of life for ordinary people is deteriorating significantly. The government is preparing various measures to stabilize prices, but it is not easy to solve the problem in the short term.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What factors have contributed to the rise in consumer prices in South Korea?
- Which food and beverage items have seen the highest price increases in recent months?
- How has the rise in processed food prices affected the overall consumer price index?
- How are consumers reacting to the increasing prices of everyday items?
- What challenges does the government face in addressing the rising cost of living?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The article mentions the political turmoil in South Korea in late 2016, including a state of emergency and the impeachment of the president. This period of instability and uncertainty likely contributed to the food and beverage companies’ decision to raise prices, as they may have felt less pressure from the government during this time. The government’s efforts to stabilize prices are an ongoing challenge as the country navigates economic difficulties.