After the Typhoon Passed, Agricultural Product Prices Exploded... Both Market Vendors and Customers Are Upset

"I think this is the first time I've seen prices like this. A bunch of green onions used to cost 2,000 won, but now it's as much as 4,500 won. Most customers ask about the price and then turn away, saying it's too expensive."

Around 5 p.m. on the 13th, Jungang Market in Jung-gu, Seoul was quiet.
Photo by Taewon Choi skking@

On the afternoon of the 13th, around 5 p.m., Park (74, male), who sells agricultural products at Jungang Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, complained with a sense of frustration. While organizing the carelessly displayed goods in the quiet market, Park explained, "Selling at high prices doesn't mean I make more money, but I can't sell at a loss either, so it's frustrating. Even when I go to the wholesale market to buy stock, there just isn't much supply. Naturally, I have no choice but to bring in goods at expensive prices." He sighed, adding, "With the bad weather continuing, there are no customers in the market. If agricultural product prices rise again due to the typhoon, the number of customers will decrease even more." Park's shop is located in the center of the market aisle, a prime spot, but most customers that day only glanced briefly at the displayed agricultural products before leaving.

At around 6 p.m. the same day, the situation was similar at Geumnam Market in Seongdong-gu. Among about ten customers browsing agricultural products, only two actually made purchases. An elderly man examined the goods for nearly five minutes, then took out three crumpled 1,000-won bills from his pocket and bought just one bag of potatoes before leaving the store. Shin (71, female), a merchant, said, "Onions that used to be 1,000 won for three pieces are now sold at 1,000 won for two pieces. The size of the mini napa cabbage is about the size of a fist and costs 5,000 won." She added, "I didn't even have kimchi to eat immediately, so I made kimchi with just one mini napa cabbage. I understand why customers feel the prices are expensive."

The burden of rising agricultural product prices was also directly felt by consumers. Kim (60, female), a housewife who visited Jungang Market that day, said, "Compared to early May, prices seem to have doubled or tripled. I enjoy eating cherry tomatoes, which used to cost about 3,500 won per kilogram, but now they are nearly 10,000 won." She added, "If prices don't come down, I will have no choice but to reduce the amount I buy."

A vegetable store in Geumnam Market, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The price is set at 3,000 won for one bag of potatoes and 2,000 won for one bag of onions.
Photo by Taewon Choi skking@

Traditional market merchants expressed relief that the typhoon damage was not as severe as feared, but they unanimously agreed that the number of customers has sharply declined due to high inflation and weather conditions. The rainy season last month followed by a heatwave earlier this month has caused agricultural product prices to remain strong. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) agricultural product distribution information on the 13th, as of the 11th, the wholesale price of napa cabbage was 25,760 won per 10 kg, a 160.7% increase from 9,880 won last month. Wholesale prices of radish, green onions, and spinach also surged by 127.3%, 56.6%, and 51.7%, respectively, compared to last month.

There are also forecasts that agricultural product prices could rise further due to crop damage caused by Typhoon "Khanun" and increased demand during the holiday season. The area of farmland damaged by Khanun is reported to be 1,565.4 hectares, which is 5.4 times the size of Yeouido (290 hectares). Professor Lee Young-ae of the Department of Consumer Studies at Incheon National University said, "The agricultural product market is highly sensitive to external factors, causing significant price fluctuations. Because typhoon damage reduces supply and demand surges during Chuseok, prices are likely to rise further."

Experts have suggested considering government stock releases and strengthening management of intermediate distributors. Kim Chang-gil, a special professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology at Seoul National University, emphasized, "This is a temporary phenomenon caused by inadequate supply due to recent adverse weather. Since it is a sudden supply shortage, it is important for the government to release stockpiled items into the market." Professor Lee also added, "Because agricultural products cannot suddenly increase supply, it is necessary to thoroughly monitor distribution channels. Along with monitoring, maintaining appropriate prices to prevent the formation of prices that could increase consumer burden is important, and methods such as providing tax benefits could also be considered."

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