Few customers are seen at a traditional market in Seoul's Songpa District, Tuesday, when a "serious heat wave warning" was issued for Seoul as the daytime temperature climbed to 38 degrees Celsius. Yonhap
Kim, a 54-year-old barbecue restaurant owner in central Seoul's Myeong-dong, said business had slowed sharply since late July.
"It's not just dinner customers. Office workers used to come here for lunch, but we've seen a sharp drop since a few weeks ago," Kim said. "I think it's because of both the summer vacation season and the extreme heat. People just aren't coming out as much, while many are cutting back on dining out because of rising prices."
Declining sales have come alongside rising operating costs, he lamented.
His air conditioners have been running almost nonstop to keep the restaurant cool, pushing electricity bills to nearly double their usual level, while higher ingredient costs continue to weigh on profit margins.
