Korean Consumption Shrinks Due to COVID-19... '3·3 Day' Boosts Mutual Growth with Samgyeopsal Consumption Increase

Mart, E-commerce, Home Shopping Discount Events
January's Sharp Drop in Pork Prices Also Rebounds
"Different from Day Marketing... A Good Event Supporting Livestock Farmers"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Amid the contraction of consumer sentiment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the distribution industry is expecting that March 3rd, Samgyeopsal Day (a day when the number 3 appears twice), will stimulate demand. Samgyeopsal Day was established in 2003 to promote the consumption of domestic pork. Large events are being launched across various online and offline distribution channels, from large supermarkets to e-commerce and home shopping.

According to the distribution industry on the 2nd, Emart has prepared about 400 tons of samgyeopsal and pork neck for Samgyeopsal Day. The main product is 'Grade 1 or higher' samgyeopsal and pork neck (100g), with about 270 tons being sold at a discount. When paying with the event card, it is sold at 980 KRW, a 30% discount from the regular price, and with KB Kookmin Card, an additional 10% discount is applied, making it 840 KRW. They explained that they have planned in advance since January and secured ample stock.

Lotte Mart is also offering up to 40% discounts on fresh and processed foods until the 4th, and for L.Point members, 'domestic pork samgyeopsal and pork neck (100g)' is sold for 1,200 KRW when paying with the event card. Nonghyup Distribution Hanaro Mart is selling samgyeopsal at 990 KRW per 100g at all stores including Yangjae and Changdong branches in celebration of Samgyeopsal Day. Hanaro Mart has been discounting domestic samgyeopsal every year on Samgyeopsal Day to support domestic livestock farms.

The excitement for Samgyeopsal Day events is also hot online. Yakult is offering up to 36% discounts on 'Nonghyup Ansim Handon' products at its online mall HiFresh. Nonghyup Ansim Handon is antibiotic-free samgyeopsal guaranteed by Nonghyup and has passed residual pesticide detection tests. Wemakeprice (WMP) is giving a random additional product when purchasing five products, including 'Handon Dodram Frozen Samgyeopsal of Memories,' as part of 'Super Wemakeprice Day.' You can enjoy a variety of items from samgyeopsal to pork backbones, meat for galbijjim (braised short ribs), and bulgogi.

Market Kurly is running 'Our Pork Week' until the 6th, offering up to 30% special discounts on domestic pork Handon and samgyeopsal. Two types of antibiotic-free Grade 1 Handon samgyeopsal are discounted by 30%, with grilling type (300g) priced at 5,950 KRW and boiling type (500g) at 9,030 KRW. They also prepared package products that allow you to enjoy samgyeopsal and seasonal water parsley at once, along with pork neck, marinated meat, and leafy vegetables for wraps.

Department stores and home shopping channels have also joined in. Daegu Department Store is holding a 'Pork Special Price Event' at the Plaza branch's basement first-floor food hall meat corner until the 3rd. Featured products include Palgong Wellpork Samgyeopsal (100g) at 1,780 KRW, Mokucheon Samgyeopsal (100g) at 2,580 KRW, Mokucheon Gochujang Samgyeopsal (100g) at 1,790 KRW, and Jeju Island Yaji Samgyeopsal (100g) at 2,780 KRW. A limited quantity of water parsley, which can be eaten together, is also being given as an additional gift.

NS Home Shopping has scheduled a special broadcast for 'Dodram Boiled Pork Soup' in celebration of Samgyeopsal Day. Only 'Dodram Handon,' a representative brand of Handon pork, was used, and it was simmered using a traditional cauldron method. Dodram Boiled Pork Soup comes in packs of 600g, with 15 packs priced at 39,900 KRW. During the broadcast, customers who purchase will receive an additional 'Dodram Mall gift certificate worth 10,000 KRW.'

Samgyeopsal is rich in vitamin B complex, protein, potassium, iron, and various minerals, which help maintain youthful and elastic skin, support children's growth and development, and are beneficial for elderly people experiencing aging. The unsaturated fatty acids abundant in pork help prevent cholesterol buildup in blood vessels and improve blood flow.

With various events taking place, domestic samgyeopsal prices, which plummeted due to COVID-19 aftereffects in February, have slightly risen and stabilized. As of the 24th of last month, the price of domestic pork excluding the Jeju region was 3,424 KRW per kg, a 38.8% increase from 3,144 KRW at the end of January. However, it is still weak compared to the average year (3,938 KRW), down by 13.0%.

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation explained in a report, "The recent price weakness continued with a decrease in the number of livestock, but with Samgyeopsal Day on March 3rd approaching, purchases by distribution companies at production sites have increased, turning prices upward." A Nonghyup Distribution official said, "Although day marketing is common these days, March 3rd Samgyeopsal Day is a meaningful and good event that helps our livestock farms and allows customers to enjoy delicious samgyeopsal at affordable prices. We hope for much patronage."

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