Are There Chuseok Gift Sets Cheaper Than Market Price?

Emart Chuseok Gift Set.

Large Mart Price Stabilization Strategy
Pre-stock Supplies When Hanwoo Prices Are Low
Dried Yellow Corvina and Fruits Also Cheaper Than Last Year

"We are selling Chuseok gift sets cheaper than market prices."

On the 31st, large marts are offering Chuseok gift sets at prices lower than market prices by supplying pre-stocked quantities. According to livestock distribution information, the average wholesale price of Hanwoo per kilogram surged more than 10% compared to last year, reaching 21,431 KRW. Emart is selling the Hanwoo Chuseok gift set ‘Peacock Hanwoo Mixed Set No.1’ at the same price as last year, 174,400 KRW.

An Emart official said, "The Hanwoo buyer has been stocking frozen gift set quantities whenever Hanwoo prices were low, starting six months before Chuseok," adding, "Not outsourcing portioning, processing, packaging, and distribution but handling these at Emart’s specialized meat processing and packaging facility, the ‘Meat Center,’ also played a significant role in price stabilization."

To control Hanwoo prices, Emart was the first among large marts to have livestock buyers participate in Hanwoo auctions since 2011, reducing auction agency fees. As of last year, about 1,200 Hanwoo cattle were purchased this way, with around 200 of them bought intensively during the holiday period.

Seafood such as dried yellow corvina and hairtail were also pre-stocked whenever prices were low to reduce Chuseok gift set prices. The ‘Jeju Silver Hairtail Set’ actually decreased from 119,200 KRW last Chuseok to 118,400 KRW this year. Fruits like apples and pears also saw a significant increase in supply volume, lowering prices by about 7.5% compared to last year.

Major marts like Lotte Mart and Homeplus are also achieving price stabilization through diversifying sourcing regions and bulk purchasing. Lotte Mart sells the ‘Hanwoo Sirloin Meat Set No.2’ for 175,000 KRW with L.Point applied and offers the ‘Hanwoo Sirloin and Striploin Mixed Set’ for 210,000 KRW. The ‘Choice L Apples and Pears (6 apples, 6 pears)’ can be purchased for 48,860 KRW. Homeplus sells the ‘Nonghyup Safe Hanwoo Rib Frozen Set’ at the same price as last Chuseok, 182,000 KRW, and the ‘LA-style Flower Rib Frozen Set’ is 9,100 KRW (9.3%) cheaper than last year at 88,900 KRW. The ‘Quality Certified Jeju Okdom Set’ is 60,000 KRW (33.5%) cheaper than last Chuseok, priced at 119,000 KRW.

An industry insider said, "We anticipated that prices would rise significantly around Chuseok from early in the year and prepared stock accordingly," adding, "We plan to make every effort to stabilize prices."

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