Prices for Chuseok ancestral ritual items have risen due to increases in livestock product prices caused by summer heatwaves.

According to a survey by Korea Price Information, a specialized price research agency, the total cost of preparing a Chuseok ritual table for a family of four at a traditional market came to 302,500 won, up 3,500 won (1.2%) from the previous year.

The cost of grocery shopping at large supermarkets was 397,700 won, an increase of 6,350 won (1.6%) from a year earlier.

The ritual table cost at traditional markets recorded 309,000 won in 2023 and 302,500 won in 2024, dropped to 299,000 won last year, and rose again this year.

Rising prices for chicken and eggs drove up the overall cost of the Chuseok ritual table.

At traditional markets, the price of 1.5 kg of chicken rose 12.5% from the previous year to 9,000 won.

The price of 10 eggs increased by 16.7% to 3,500 won.

Last summer's heatwaves worsened breeding conditions, affecting the price hikes.

Among seafood products, the price of Russian pollack fillets surged 30% from a year earlier to 13,000 won due to rising oil prices and exchange rates.

Among vegetables, the price of radishes rose 20%, and zucchini rose 33.3%.

Conversely, prices for apples, pears, dried persimmons, jujubes, newly harvested rice, songpyeon (half-moon-shaped rice cakes), and tofu remained unchanged.

The price of a head of napa cabbage fell 11.1% from a year earlier.

As for fruits, shipments of newly harvested fruits primarily used for ritual tables, such as apples and pears, are gradually expanding ahead of Chuseok, and supply conditions are expected to improve as the peak harvest season gets underway.

At large supermarkets, price increases were centered around eggs (20.1%), pork front leg meat (10.1%), chicken (7.6%), kelp (6.3%), and Russian pollack fillets (5.0%).

The government has unveiled measures to expand the supply of seasonal goods and provide discount support to stabilize public livelihood ahead of Chuseok.

The government decided to supply a record-large 183,000 tons of Chuseok seasonal items, expanding supplies of fruits to more than three times and eggs up to 2.4 times compared to normal periods.

Agricultural, livestock, and fishery products will be discounted through a record 103 billion won in government discount support.

Lee Dong-hoon, a team leader at Korea Price Information, stated, "Prices of some agricultural, livestock, and marine products rose due to this summer's heatwaves and torrential downpours," but added, "As temperatures have recently dropped, the growth and shipment conditions for agricultural products are gradually improving, and shipments of newly harvested goods are expected to get into full swing."

(Photo: Yonhap News)