Paldo will raise shipment prices on 21 ramen and beverage products from Sept. 1, averaging 5.5% for 12 cup noodle items and 5.8% for nine beverages. The affected products include five Wang Ttukkeong varieties, two Dosirak products, Paldo Bibimyeon Cup and 238-milliliter canned Birak Sikhye. Paldo said rising costs made selective adjustments unavoidable after efforts to improve productivity and management efficiency, while packet noodle prices remain frozen following an average 4.8% cut on 19 ramen products in April. The move comes amid a broader wave of food-price increases: Nongshim, CJ CheilJedang, Ottogi and Lotte Chilsung Beverage have also raised prices, while Paris Baguette and Samlip are increasing bread prices. Heat-wave-related supply disruptions have sharply lifted vegetable prices, including spinach, cucumbers, perilla leaves, zucchini and napa cabbage. The South Korean government plans a Chuseok livelihood-stability package in September, but industry officials and consumers question whether discounts and monitoring can offset persistent raw-material cost pressures.