[Young journalist Hansae Jung] It has been pointed out that highway rest-stop stores across the country are paying excessive store commission fees–sometimes exceeding 60%–to operating companies, and that this cost is increasing the financial strain on travelers by being passed directly onto consumers through soaring food prices.

According to data obtained from the Korea Expressway Corporation by Jo In-cheol and Hwang Hee, Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers serving on the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, the average commission rate charged to stores at 203 highway rest areas nationwide, excluding directly operated stores, reached 33.2% in 2026. Specifically, 28 of these rest areas were found to charge commission rates of 40% or higher.

By service area, the Daecheon Service Area (Seoul-bound) on the West Coast Expressway recorded the highest average commission rate in the country at 59.1%, while the Daecheon Service Area (Mokpo-bound) also collected over half of its revenue, 50.6%, in commissions. This was followed by Haman (Suncheon-bound) at 46.2%, Maesong (Mokpo-bound) at 45.2%, and Manghyang (Busan-bound) at 45.1%. Looking at individual shops, commission rates at the Daecheon Service Area (Seoul-bound) reached as high as 63% for stalls selling walnut cakes, fish cakes (hot bars), squid, and toast, while coffee shops faced a rate of 62%. This means that for every KRW 10,000 in sales, up to KRW 6,300 is deducted for rental commissions and other fees–a figure more than two to three times higher than the commission rates typically seen in department store food sections, which are usually around 20%.

This distorted distribution and vendor-entry structure has driven a steep rise in food prices at highway rest areas. Among the 10 major food items, nine recorded average price increases of double digits compared with August 2021. Pork cutlet (tonkatsu) saw the largest price hike over the five-year period, increasing 27.5% from an average of 8,984 won to 11,454 won as of August this year. During the same period, prices rose for walnut cakes (from 4,391 won to 5,420 won, or 23.4%) and Americano coffee (from 4,066 won to 4,845 won, or 19.2%), while bibimbap (10,068 won) and gukbap (9,801 won) both saw an 18.4% increase. There were also significant price disparities between rest areas. For instance, the price of pork cutlet reached 17,000 won at Anseongmatchum Rest Area (Pyeongtaek) but was only 7,000 won at Dongmyeong Rest Area (Chuncheon), a difference of 10,000 won.

An analysis of sales during the holiday period revealed a clear concentration of consumption in coffee and snacks. Over the five-day Chuseok holiday, Americanos sold a total of 877,000 cups, generating KRW 4.178 billion in revenue and maintaining their position as the top-selling item by both volume and revenue for the fifth consecutive year. They were followed by snacks, instant noodles (up 119.7% year-on-year), coffee beverages, and walnut cakes. The rest areas recording the highest revenues during the same period were Haengdamdo (KRW 1.436 billion) and Deokpyeong (KRW 1.255 billion).

The Korea Expressway Corporation acknowledges that the current system has a “high-commission structure,” but faces limitations in directly intervening in private operators’ business practices due to potential violations of the Fair Trade Act. The corporation has introduced direct public contracts at eight locations, including newly established rest areas, while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has also announced a reform plan to replace the multi-tiered subcontracting structure with direct contracts. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient to address the excessive profiteering prevalent at the more than 200 existing rest areas.

Members of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee stated that “charging rent at rates exceeding those of department stores at public facilities such as highway rest areas places pressure on small business owners operating on-site, while these costs are passed on in full to consumers through meal prices of around KRW 10,000, increasing the financial burden on consumers.” They called for a substantial expansion of direct public contracts and practical measures to stabilise prices, including the designation of affordable food options.

▶원문 기사: 휴게소 음식값 상승, 원인 찾았다…'최대 60%' 입점 수수료에 부담감↑ (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 6)

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