"Ulleungdo Has Lost Its Sense of Reality"...Tourists Shocked by 170,000-Won Dried Squid, Then Checked Online [What Do You Think?]

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[The Financial News] Ulleungdo, which has been plagued by repeated controversies over issues such as pork belly with too much fat and taxi overcharges, is once again facing criticism over what many are calling an inflated price for dried squid.
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On the 4th, a video titled "Has Ulleungdo Really Gone Under?" was uploaded to the YouTube channel Mul Mannan Gogi.
The channel operator, identified as A, explained the purpose of the video, saying, "I saw recent news saying that Ulleungdo's tourist numbers have dropped sharply because of rudeness, inflated prices, and high living costs, so I wanted to check for myself."
The scene that sparked the controversy showed A examining a dried squid product at a specialty shop in Ulleungdo, where the squid was bundled in packs of about eight to nine pieces.
The video captured A first mistaking the price for 17,000 won, then reacting in shock after confirming that the actual price was 170,000 won for eight to nine squid. After leaving the store, A searched an online shopping mall and found that five dried squid of the same type were being sold for around 27,000 won.
After the video was released, online users reacted by saying, "If it is more expensive at the source, who would bother going all the way to Ulleungdo?" and "If there is a difference in quality, the store should post an explanation so consumers can understand."
Some also criticized it as a typical inflated-price scam, saying, "It looks like the same product sold on online shopping malls and in the same packaging. The price gap is far too large."
Others pushed back, saying, "Squid itself is already an expensive ingredient" and "Prices vary widely depending on size, quality, and drying method, so a simple comparison is difficult."
In fact, dried squid can vary greatly in price depending on size and drying condition. On major online shopping malls, Ulleungdo dried squid is sold in six size categories, from small to extra-extra-large, with prices ranging from the 20,000-won range to the 100,000-won range for a pack of 10.
In particular, so-called "same-day caught and dried" squid, known as "dangilbari," has sometimes been sold in five-piece packs for over 100,000 won.
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However, analysts say the controversy spread so quickly because similar incidents have repeatedly surfaced in Ulleungdo over the years.
Earlier, another YouTuber, B, exposed a restaurant in Ulleungdo after ordering pork belly priced at 15,000 won per serving (120 grams) and receiving meat that was mostly fat. At the time, the restaurant said, "A staff member mistakenly served pork shoulder intended for stew," but the establishment was eventually hit with a seven-day suspension by the local government for violating the Food Sanitation Act. In another case, a taxi driver was accused of demanding twice the expected fare, drawing public outrage.
As the controversies continue, the number of visitors to Ulleungdo is clearly declining. According to Ulleung County and others, about 340,000 tourists visited Ulleungdo last year, down by more than 37,000 from the previous year. After peaking at more than 460,000 in 2022, the number has been falling every year.
sms@fnnews.com Sung Min-seo Reporter