Average Cost of Chuseok Ancestral Ritual Table Setting 318,045 Won... Up 6.8% from Last Year

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation announced on the 25th that the average cost of setting up a Charye table for this year's Chuseok holiday is 318,045 won, an increase of 6.8% (20,241 won) compared to last year.

This survey was conducted on the 24th, about half a month before the Chuseok holiday, covering 28 Chuseok seasonal items at 18 traditional markets and 27 large retail stores nationwide.

By business type, traditional markets recorded 272,171 won, and large retail stores 363,920 won, increasing by 7% and 6.6% respectively compared to the previous year. Traditional markets are on average 25% (91,749 won) cheaper than large retail stores.

By item, prices of vegetables such as spinach, radish, and napa cabbage were high due to the ongoing heatwave combined with unprecedented heavy rain. Apples showed an upward trend as the proportion of large-sized fruits decreased due to poor growth caused by early Chuseok harvest.

Additionally, processed foods such as flour, tofu, and dasik generally rose due to increased raw material import prices, while prices of rice, sesame, and croaker, which have stable supply and demand, fell.

The government is focusing on easing consumer price perception by expanding the supply of 20 major seasonal items by 1.4 times compared to normal times to stabilize the supply of Chuseok seasonal products, and by linking domestic agricultural and livestock discount coupons (Nonghal coupons) with retail industry discount events to increase discount rates.

The corporation stated, "This survey result reflects prices without applying Nonghal coupons. If consumers make good use of the increased discount limit of 20,000 to 30,000 won per person for Nonghal coupons during Chuseok and various discount benefits from the retail industry, it will be possible to purchase seasonal products at last year's cost level."

Nonghal coupons can be used for discounts up to 20,000 won per person at large marts, small and medium-sized marts, eco-friendly stores, and online malls according to each store's event cycle, and up to 30,000 won at local food direct stores and traditional markets. In offline stores, discounts are automatically applied when paying for event items, and for online malls, the Chuseok Nonghal coupon can be downloaded from the site and used at checkout.

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