Emart Offers Up to 45% Discount on Kimchi-Making Ingredients... Kimchi-Making Cost for a Family of Four at 160,446 Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Emart is holding a discount event on major kimchi-making products until the 25th in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to stabilize kimchi-making prices.

The event products include main ingredients for kimchi-making such as baechu (napa cabbage), radish, garlic, ginger, and pear. Emart has prepared these products at up to 45% discounted prices through support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as advance purchases and bulk storage.

Baechu is sold at 5,450 KRW for a net bag of 3 heads (about 8 kg), and when paying with the event card and verifying as a Shinsegae Points member, it can be purchased at a 45% discounted price of 2,990 KRW. Other products are sold at a 20% discount when verified as Shinsegae Points members.

The event prices are as follows: bunch radish (5-6 pieces, about 8 kg) 3,984 KRW, peeled garlic (1 kg) 6,992 KRW, fresh ginger (800 g) 5,984 KRW, pear (3 kg, 4-7 pieces) 11,920 KRW, altari radish (1.5 kg) 2,384 KRW, and Cheongdo water parsley (200 g) 1,984 KRW. Additionally, pork shoulder and hind leg for boiled pork are sold at a 30% discount for Shinsegae Points members.

The cost for purchasing basic kimchi-making ingredients for a family of four during the event period at Emart is 160,446 KRW, which is similar to last year's 160,700 KRW. The cost comparison is based on 21 heads of baechu and includes prices of radish, green onions, pear, red pepper powder, salt, garlic, ginger, and anchovy fish sauce for this year and last year.

This year's kimchi-making cost is expected to be similar to last year despite the rise in red pepper powder and garlic prices, due to the price stabilization of baechu and radish. According to data from the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the production of autumn baechu and radish increased by 23.2% and 7.9% respectively compared to last year, due to increased cultivation area and favorable weather conditions during the growing season.

Emart purchased baechu cheaply from early November, before the kimchi-making season when baechu prices rise, and stored 1,000 tons (about 360,000 heads) of baechu at its own Fresh Center, lowering prices further. Emart’s baechu (3 heads, about 8 kg) selling price this year is 2,990 KRW, which is 45% cheaper than last year’s 5,520 KRW.

Bunch radish (5-6 pieces, about 8 kg) was also sold at 3,984 KRW, 33% cheaper than last year through advance contracts, preparing both baechu and radish at prices that dropped more significantly than the wholesale market price decline.

On the other hand, prices of red pepper powder and garlic rose. The decrease in dried chili pepper production by 24% compared to last year, caused by frequent rain, lack of sunlight, and anthracnose disease in July, is analyzed as the reason for the increase in red pepper powder prices.

Kwok Daehwan, head of Emart’s vegetable team, said, “As the kimchi-making season begins in earnest, we have prepared a large-scale kimchi event with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to stabilize kimchi-making prices.” He added, “In particular, to provide practical help to consumers, we prepared 1,000 tons of baechu more cheaply through Emart’s own Fresh Center stockpile, which is the most important ingredient in kimchi-making.”

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