These days, many people sigh over lunch prices, right? I also wonder every day, ‘What can I eat cheaply today?’
Honestly, it feels like everything is going up except my salary, so my hands tremble when I think about eating out. But there’s one service that has really captured our hearts. It’s called Geoji Map.
It’s been used by over 570,000 people within two weeks of its launch, so it’s no exaggeration to say it’s a ‘national app,’ right? Today, I’d like to share my honest thoughts about Geoji Map and how we can wisely save on food expenses in this high-inflation era.
Geoji Map, What Is It That Makes It So Hot?
Honestly, when I first heard the name ‘Geoji Map’ (Beggar Map), I was a bit surprised. But there’s a meaning behind the name.
Developer Choi Sung-soo got the idea from a saving community called ‘Geoji Bang’ (Beggar Room) and said it expresses the ‘solidarity’ of people who approach saving humorously and not pessimistically, even in difficult situations. Isn’t that a wonderful intention?
In short, Geoji Map is a ‘map service that helps you find affordable restaurants at a glance.’ It works by users directly registering information about good value-for-money restaurants and sharing reviews, accumulating data.
It’s said that most of the restaurants listed are priced between 1,000 won and 8,000 won. For example, unbelievable prices like 4,000 won for pork cutlets and 3,000 won for kimchi stew. It’s truly amazing, isn’t it?
Why Is Everyone So Enthusiastic About Geoji Map?
Personally, I think the reason why Geoji Map is so popular is very clear. It’s because of the endlessly rising eating out prices.
These days, a bowl of naengmyeon easily costs over 10,000 won, and even a single gimbap roll is nearly 4,000 won. For young people like me, who don’t have deep pockets, eating out is a really big burden.
Geoji Map has become a ‘survival item’ that alleviates this burden. Furthermore, there’s an analysis that it’s a result of a culture that enjoys ‘jjantech’ (frugal tech) in a fun way, beyond simple saving.
Another big advantage I see is the community feature. Users directly upload information and share reviews, making it fun to share ‘restaurants only I know.’
When I see reactions like, ‘I didn’t know where was cheap and ate only hamburgers every day, but I’ll use this often,’ it makes me realize that many people were really craving such a service.
Smart Tips for Using Geoji Map! (feat. Developer’s Official Statement)
If you want to use Geoji Map more effectively, it’s good to know a few tips. First, when you access the map, you can immediately check affordable restaurants around your current location.
If you zoom in on the desired area on the map, you can see the restaurant’s location, menu, and prices at a glance, which is really convenient.
And did you know that Geoji Map also has a ‘Hot Deal’ tab? Here, you can share links to purchase groceries like samgyeopsal and ramen at low prices, or information about discount events.
Developer Choi Sung-soo said that the name ‘Geoji Map’ is an expression of solidarity among people who, even in difficult situations, prepare for a sound future and strive by approaching things humorously rather than pessimistically. Perhaps that’s why users’ voluntary participation and information sharing are so active.
However, it’s said that false reports by stakeholders have recently been discovered, so the process of verification through users’ collective intelligence is also important.
Why Geoji Map Is More Than Just a Saving App
In my opinion, Geoji Map is more than just an app that finds cheap restaurants. It’s an important indicator of how consumption patterns are changing in the high-inflation era.
Many experts also diagnose that the popularity of services like Geoji Map ‘goes beyond a simple jjantech trend and signals a fundamental change in the consumer market’s constitution.’
Especially among young people, there’s a clear tendency to choose cost-effective strategies rather than a life of deprivation, and to share this through social media, pursuing both enjoyment and saving simultaneously.
Perhaps this phenomenon could become similar to Japan’s food culture pattern, where eating out is reduced and convenience foods are preferred. A new ‘new normal’ might arrive faster than expected.
In this high-inflation era, we are all striving for wise consumption in our own ways. I’m glad that services like Geoji Map seem to help with that effort, even if just a little.
I hope that more such life hacks will emerge in the future, so that we can all enjoy delicious meals without worrying about our wallets!