BBQ Chairman: "Chicken Should Cost 30,000 Won Per Piece... Small Business Owners Can't Even Earn Minimum Wage"

"Many Customers Misunderstand... Considering Labor and Material Costs, It Should Be 30,000 Won Per Unit"

Yoon Hong-geun, Chairman of Genesis BBQ / Photo by Genesis BBQ

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] As the era of "20,000 won per whole chicken" begins, consumers are voicing complaints, while Yoon Hong-geun, chairman of Genesis BBQ, stated that due to labor and ingredient costs, "the price of chicken should be around 30,000 won, not 20,000 won."

On the 24th, Chairman Yoon appeared on YTN Radio's "Wise Radio Life" and responded to concerns that consumers feel burdened by the increased chicken prices, saying, "There are many misunderstandings among customers."

Chairman Yoon cited slaughtering fees, logistics costs, and ingredient expenses as reasons why the price should be raised to "30,000 won per chicken." He explained, "When we eat pork belly, if we consume about 1kg, and 150g (one serving) costs 15,000 won, it totals around 100,000 to 105,000 won. Chicken is also 1kg, right?" He added, "Some people compare using live chickens from breeding farms. When a 1.6kg live chicken from a breeding farm is slaughtered, it yields a 1kg chicken. If the live chicken price is 2,000 won per kg, you multiply by 1.6 to calculate 3,200 won."

He continued, "Now, to make it into edible chicken meat, the slaughtering fee is about 1,000 won. The current market price for live chicken is 2,600 won per kg. Calculated at 1.6kg, that’s about 4,160 won. Adding the slaughtering fee of 1,000 won brings it to 5,120 won. After logistics costs, the 1kg chicken sold at large supermarkets is about 8,000 to 9,000 won." He explained, "Additionally, frying one whole chicken at BBQ involves using powder and extra virgin olive oil, costing about 3,000 to 4,000 won."

Chairman Yoon conveyed that small business owners who run franchise stores are struggling due to consumer resistance to price increases. He said, "At these prices, the headquarters is not making a profit. Small business owners rent stores and put all their labor into providing service, but due to customers’ perspectives, they cannot freely raise prices." He added, "Even if rice or cabbage prices rise by 200-300%, no one complains. Labor costs, rent, and utility expenses are high, but there is no one to represent these concerns." He lamented, "Small business owners should receive the rewards of their efforts, but now they are running businesses that cannot even pay minimum wage."

Meanwhile, Chairman Yoon, who also serves as president of the Korea Skating Union, was asked whether short track skater Hwang Dae-heon used the so-called "chicken pension," a lifetime BBQ usage pass awarded after winning a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. He replied, "It is being prepared." He explained, "BBQ covers all delivery fees and calculates one chicken per day, including delivery charges, so that the athlete can order any product for life. We are currently preparing this."

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