[Report] "Please Lower Mask Prices" - Will Public Mask Prices Be Reduced?

Citizens Met at Pharmacies: "Prioritize Price Stabilization Over Increasing Quantity"
Pharmacists: "Some Citizens Feel Price Burden as Quantity Increases to 10"
Government: "Plan to Reform Public System to Prevent Inconvenience to Citizens"

On the 19th, ten bundles of masks are displayed on the counter of a pharmacy near Yaksu Station. Photo by Min Junyoung, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] "It's reassuring that we can buy up to 10 masks, but the price is a burden."

As it has become possible to purchase up to 10 public masks, voices from citizens asking for a price reduction continue. Despite the smooth supply of public masks, adjusting only the quantity instead of lowering the price is considered unreasonable from the consumers' perspective.

On the 19th, university student A (25), met near Yaksu Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, said, "The limit on masks per person has increased, so I don't have to worry about masks, but buying in bulk now makes me worry about the price."

A said, "I'm still a university student and can't work part-time, but I spend a lot of money on masks every month," emphasizing, "It seems that the mask supply has stabilized to some extent, but the price also needs to be lowered a bit."

Citizen B (66) said, "My son used to buy masks every week, but today I went out alone and was told I could buy 10 masks," expressing, "It seems the supply is sufficient, so the purchase quantity was increased, but the price still doesn't seem stable."

B said, "Still, I will have to buy masks until COVID-19 ends, but it's frustrating that they don't consider lowering the mask price, which used to be around 1,000 won."

On the 19th, a citizen is buying a mask at a pharmacy near Yaksu Station. Photo by Min Junyoung, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

Given this situation, some citizens have small disputes at pharmacies. Pharmacist C, in his 30s, who has been running a pharmacy near Yaksu Station for four years, explained, "Mainly, people who cannot buy masks online sometimes say the mask price is expensive," adding, "The price per mask is still frozen, but since the quantity increased to 10, people feel it's expensive to buy masks."

Pharmacist D (33), running another pharmacy, said, "Since masks are widely recognized as essential, most people accept the price, but occasionally some complain that the mask price seems too high," adding, "They don't express complaints directly to us (pharmacists), but seem frustrated about having to buy masks every time."

While consumers continue to call for a reduction in public mask prices, the Public Procurement Service explained in March that prices were set considering the situation of mask manufacturers.

The Public Procurement Service stated, "Considering the difficult management conditions of mask manufacturers and to enhance production capacity, the contract price was set at 900~1000 won, reflecting raw material costs and production incentives," adding, "Pharmaceutical distributors GeoYoung and Baekje Pharmaceuticals supply pharmacies at 1,100 won."

They further explained, "At logistics warehouses, bulk masks received are repackaged overnight so that pharmacies can sell two masks per person, which incurs additional logistics and labor costs."

On the 19th, public masks delivered to a pharmacy near Yaksu Station were placed there. Photo by Min Junyoung, intern reporter minjy7051@asiae.co.kr

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the mask industry, products sold at prices lower than public masks are increasing.

With increased mask production and a much more stable supply situation, along with continued hot weather, more people are seeking thin surgical masks or droplet-blocking masks, leading to a decline in the price of public health masks.

As a result, some predict that mask prices will fall according to market supply and demand principles.

The government announced it will review price adjustments through mask demand monitoring. Lee Ui-kyung, head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, explained, "We plan to reform the public system to ensure that by July 11, health masks and droplet-blocking masks are closely monitored so that citizens can purchase masks at reasonable prices without inconvenience."

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