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The price of services is markedly different depending on which side of the Han River they are offered, Consumers Korea said Thursday at a forum on consumer prices.
¡ß Crammers
The group surveyed the education costs of 253 private crammers in Seoul that offer English conversation classes and found that the average price in the affluent Gangnam region, south of the river, was the most expensive at W245,000 (US$1=W1,478). Next was Gwangjin (W214,700), Yangcheon (W214,500), Dongdaemun (W204,600) and Seocho (W196,000). The cheapest were in the Jung district (W136,100). It surveyed prices in 25 districts except Gangbuk, focusing on five to nine crammers with franchise operations throughout the city.
Consumers Korea president Kim Jai-ok said especially given that they are franchised schools whose prices are regulated by headquarters, it is difficult to justify the price variations even taking into account differences in rent and the content of lessons.
¡ß Beauty salons
Surveying 137 beauty salons in Seoul, 27 single operations and 110 franchise outlets, the group found that a hair cut in Seocho costs W28,000 at the top of the list, while Dongjak was the cheapest at W11,200. Seocho prices overall were almost double those of Dongjak. A regular perm was the most expensive in Gangnam at W82,700, and the cheapest in Eunpyeong at W40,000.
¡ß Bank commissions
There were also substantial differences in the commissions charged by commercial banks. All 17 commercial banks were surveyed and in the case of ATM usage after work hours, Kookmin Bank charged W500, SC First Bank W600, and Citibank, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and Cheju Bank W800 and the other 11 W1,000. Commissions also varied when wiring money to accounts at other banks using bank tellers.
Prof. Song Bo-kyung of Seoul Women¡¯s University said continued comparisons by consumer groups of commissions charged by banks could have the effect of lowering such prices by prompting consumers to choose the lowest rates.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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