<Anchor>



As the price of flour and cooking oil soared these days, the burden on the self-employed, which was already difficult, increased even more.

It is under the aftermath of the war with Russia, the world's major grain producer, and Ukraine, and Russian President Putin has even hinted at the weaponization of food, so I am more worried about the future.



This is reporter Jae Hee-won.



<Reporter> Kim Gun-



woong, who opened a pretzel shop after retirement, is afraid to check the cost of ingredients these days.



Cooking oil, which was 28,000 won per barrel a year ago, has risen to 50,000 won this month, and wheat flour has risen to close to 10,000 won per bag.



[Kim Geon-woong / Twitch restaurant operation: If you have a lot of spare money, you can preempt and buy a lot in advance, but that's not the case, so the situation is...

.

(It's going to go up more) I'm worried now.]



The president of the Kalguksu restaurant also complains that this is the first time the price of ingredients has risen so much in 9 years of business.



[Park Jae-bok / Kalguksu Restaurant Operation: Not only the flour but all the ingredients are also added.

Over the years, (the price of kalguksu) has risen by 1,000 won.]



The amount of imported flour has decreased slightly, but the amount of imported flour has increased.



This means that the same amount was brought in at a price that was 20% higher than a year ago.



International prices have risen in the aftermath of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which are major grain producers, but if grain production declines and import/export sanctions begin in earnest this year, prices will inevitably rise further.



The chicken industry is also in trouble due to the increase in raw material prices.



[Chicken industry official: Even if the head office does not raise the raw material cost, other utility (delivery) costs and labor costs have risen too much.

So there are a lot of (franchisor owners) asking for higher consumer prices.]



In the midst of this, Russian President Putin suggested the weaponization of food, urging us to deal with food exports to non-friendly countries, including us.



Unsatisfactory supply and demand leads to an increase in international prices, and the price of our table is expected to rise even more.



(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, video editing: Nam Il)