According to a report released on Monday, South Korean consumers' satisfaction with processed food decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year. The decline in satisfaction was observed in the price category for the third consecutive year. The Korea Rural Economic Institute conducted a survey of 2,000 households nationwide, asking them to rate their satisfaction with processed foods on a scale of 1 to 5. The average satisfaction score dropped to 3.6 in 2023, down from 3.9 in the previous three years. This decline was evident across all categories, including price, taste, safety, nutrition, convenience, and variety. The most significant drop was in the safety category, from 3.9 to 3.5, while the lowest satisfaction was reported for price, scoring only 3.3 in 2023. The decrease in consumer satisfaction with processed foods is likely linked to the recent price hikes in the country. The overall price of processed food rose by 6.8 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, following a more moderate increase in 2020 and 2021. Noodles were identified as the type of processed food that most affected the overall cost of shopping, selected by 25.5 percent of respondents, followed by dairy products at 14.4 percent. The survey also revealed that the most popular frequency of purchasing processed food was once a week, chosen by 40.6 percent of respondents, while taste was identified as the top criterion for South Korean consumers when buying processed foods, selected by 27.4 percent of respondents.