Samgyetang for 16,000 Won When Bought, 9,000 Won Even When Made at Home

by Koo Nari

Published 17 Jul.2023 15:02(KST)

Impact of Avian Influenza and Weather on Prices

With the rise in dining-out prices, the average price of a bowl of Samgyetang in Seoul has exceeded 16,000 won. Not only the dining-out prices but also the cost of buying ingredients from the market and making it at home was found to be 9,000 won per serving.

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to Korea Price Information, a professional price survey organization, as of the 10th, the day before Chobok, a survey of prices for seven Samgyetang ingredients including fresh chicken, fresh ginseng, and glutinous rice sold in traditional markets showed that the cost for a family of four was 34,860 won. The cost per serving was about 8,720 won, which is 11.2% higher than last year and 42.9% higher than in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main ingredient of Samgyetang, chicken, saw a 4.3% reduction in farming scale due to avian influenza (AI) and rising feed prices from last year through early this year. Additionally, energy costs for managing temperature and humidity in poultry farms due to heatwaves and monsoon rains also contributed to a 6.7% price increase compared to last year.

Among the secondary ingredients in Samgyetang, green onions suffered from poor growing conditions due to the monsoon, and chestnuts had reduced stock, causing their prices to rise by 20% and 27.3%, respectively. The medicinal herbs used for broth also surged by 50% due to increased labor and logistics costs.

However, ahead of Jungbok (coming on the 21st), chicken prices showed a slight downward trend.

Lee Dong-hoon, a senior researcher at Korea Price Information, explained, "The demand for chicken has decreased after Chobok, when Samgyetang is most sought after, compounded by the monsoon season, and demand has been dispersed to other health foods."

Also, according to the Korea Consumer Agency’s comprehensive price information portal, Chamgagaek, the average price of a bowl of Samgyetang in Seoul last month was 16,423 won, a 10.3% increase compared to the same month last year. At famous Samgyetang restaurants in Seoul, the price per bowl was found to range from 20,000 to 26,000 won.