▲ A traditional market in Seoul selling fruits for the Chuseok ancestral ritual table
The cost of preparing the Chuseok ancestral ritual table this year has risen by an average of about 5% compared to last year.
Driven by summer heatwaves and frequent rain, prices for vegetables such as zucchini, radishes, and bellflower roots surged significantly, adding to the burden of holiday grocery shopping.
The Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation announced that it surveyed the purchasing costs of 34 major ancestral ritual items for a six-member family across 25 locations, including 16 traditional markets, 8 large supermarkets, and Garak Mall, on September 9. The average cost across the three retail sectors rose 5.1% from last year.
By retail sector, Garak Mall offered the lowest cost at 228,000 won.
Traditional markets averaged 245,051 won, while large supermarkets recorded 290,711 won.
Compared to last year, costs increased by 3.5% at traditional markets, 5.6% at Garak Mall, and 6.0% at large supermarkets.
Vegetables led the price increases.
Vegetable prices rose by an average of 14.7% compared to last year.
Prices for zucchini jumped 43.8%, radishes 24.9%, and bellflower roots 23.0%.
Conversely, increased supplies caused prices for napa cabbage hearts (albaegi cabbage) to fall by 9.6% and green onions by 2.0%.
Livestock products rose by an average of 7.4%.
Pork prices increased by 18.5%, and beef for soup rose by 10.5%.
Fishery products also increased by 6.2%, with pollack fillets surging 20.1% and dried pollack 10.8%.
Meanwhile, croaker prices dropped 6.4% as government stockpiles were released.
Fruit prices remained relatively stable.
The average increase was 3.6%, with apple prices remaining similar to last year, while dried persimmons fell 12.0% and jujubes dropped 14.5%.
However, pears and chestnuts increased by 12.7% and 15.4%, respectively.
Processed foods such as songpyeon (half-moon-shaped rice cakes), imitation crab sticks, and sikhye (sweet rice punch) generally remained stable.
Price differences were also observed depending on the shopping venue.
Traditional markets were relatively cheaper than large supermarkets for herbs, fishery products, beef, and chicken.
Large supermarkets offered lower prices for certain processed and packaged foods, including songpyeon, dasik (traditional tea cookies), imitation crab sticks, and eggs.
Garak Mall featured relatively lower prices for vegetables, pork, and chicken.
The corporation explained that this survey was based on prices about two weeks prior to Chuseok, and actual grocery costs may fluctuate depending on weather conditions and demand.
At Garak Mall, shoppers who purchase 34,000 won or more in ritual items will receive a 10,000 won Onnuri gift certificate, while those spending 67,000 won or more will get 20,000 back, through September 20.
Moon Young-pyo, president of the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, said, "While the heatwave drove up prices for some vegetables, fruits and processed foods showed a relatively stable trend. Since price differences among items are significant, splitting purchases across different shopping venues will help reduce the burden of grocery shopping."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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