Chuseok Memorial Table: Preparing at Traditional Markets Is 79,000 Won Cheaper Than at Large Discount Stores

352,553 Won at Traditional Markets, 432,062 Won at Large Discount Stores
(for a Family of Four)

A recent survey found that preparing a Chuseok memorial table at traditional markets this year is nearly 20% cheaper compared to large discount stores.

The Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) released on September 15th the results of a price comparison of 28 essential Chuseok products across traditional markets, large discount stores, and online platforms. SEMAS surveyed 37 traditional markets, 37 nearby large discount stores, and 2 online platforms during the first week of September.

The survey showed that traditional markets were 18.4% less expensive than large discount stores and 4.8% cheaper than online platforms. For a family of four, the average cost of a Chuseok memorial table was found to be 352,553 won at traditional markets, 432,062 won at large discount stores, and 370,367 won at online platforms. This means traditional markets are 79,509 won cheaper than large discount stores and 17,814 won less expensive than online platforms.

By category, traditional markets offered the lowest prices compared to large discount stores in vegetables (52.7%), seafood (32.2%), and meat (16.9%), respectively. Compared to online platforms, traditional markets had a price advantage in vegetables (36.9%), fruits (24.6%), and seafood (17.5%), in that order.

Out of all 28 items surveyed, traditional markets offered lower prices than large discount stores for 22 items. The products with the greatest price advantage were prepared bellflower root (71.9%), dried bracken (68.6%), pollack fillet (43.1%), jujubes (37.8%), songpyeon rice cakes (36.2%), beef for soup (28.1%), and spinach (25.3%).

Moreover, traditional markets had lower prices than online platforms on 18 of the 28 items surveyed. The items with the greatest price advantage were prepared bellflower root (57.6%), fuji apples (51.3%), dried bracken (46.8%), yellow croaker (39.7%), grapes (32.4%), dried persimmons (30.3%), and yakgwa honey pastry (27.2%).

Intae Yeon, President of SEMAS, stated, "With concerns mounting over rising grocery prices ahead of Chuseok, we expanded the survey this year to include not only traditional markets and large discount stores, but also online platforms so consumers can compare price information across various purchase channels." He added, "From September 16th to 20th, a 10% discount will be offered on up to 200,000 won in additional purchases of digital Onnuri gift certificates. We hope this will help consumers prepare for the holiday economically at traditional markets, easing household financial burdens and revitalizing local economies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.