Korea's dining landscape is becoming increasingly polarized amid economic slowdown. On one hand, university boarding house meals are gaining popularity due to employment market uncertainty and high inflation, while on the other hand, reservation battles are raging for upscale restaurants costing hundreds of thousands of won. University boarding houses are popular with students because they offer affordable monthly rent alongside breakfast and dinner. In particular, university cafeterias offering breakfast for 1,000 won are beloved by many students as they provide diverse menus at affordable prices every day. Meanwhile, the upscale restaurant 'Mosu' is gaining tremendous popularity despite its high price of 420,000 won per meal, with reservations quickly fully booked. Such preferences for expensive dining options exist, and this polarization phenomenon is appearing alongside the widening social income gap. As income disparity grows, the range of choices has expanded, but many people feel relatively deprived.
