"Chuseok Ancestral Rite Table Costs: Traditional Markets Are 67,000 Won Cheaper Than Large Supermarkets"

On the 29th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, citizens are shopping at Mangwon Market in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Among 27 Chuseok ritual food items, 18 items were found to be cheaper in traditional markets than in large supermarkets. For a table setting for four people, the cost was about 67,000 KRW cheaper in traditional markets.

The Small Enterprise and Market Service announced on the 30th that from the 17th to the 24th, they conducted a price comparison survey of 27 Chuseok ritual food items at 37 traditional markets and nearby large supermarkets each.

As a result, among all 27 surveyed items, 18 items were found to be cheaper in traditional markets than in large supermarkets.

By category, traditional markets showed price advantages over large supermarkets in vegetables (47.7%), seafood (24.4%), and meat (23.1%), in that order.

In particular, traditional markets were cheaper than large supermarkets for bracken (Gosari) (67.4%, 9,965 KRW), peeled balloon flower root (Kkan Doraji) (62.9%, 9,518 KRW), jujube (Daechu) (34.4%, 4,210 KRW), mung bean sprouts (Sukju) (34.3%, 829 KRW), and beef (for soup) (34.2%, 16,321 KRW).

Additionally, the cost of setting a Chuseok ritual table (for four people) was about 67,417 KRW (18.6%) cheaper in traditional markets compared to large supermarkets.

The average cost for a Chuseok ritual table was 295,668 KRW in traditional markets and 363,085 KRW in large supermarkets. Compared to last year, prices increased by 10.4% in traditional markets and 2.7% in large supermarkets.

Park Sung-hyo, Director of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, said, “In difficult household situations due to rising prices, we hope people shop economically at traditional markets, which welcome customers with affordable prices, generous hospitality, and improved services.” He added, “By using the recently launched 'Rechargeable Card-type Onnuri Gift Certificate,' you can purchase up to 1 million KRW with a 10% discount.”

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