9,000 won at home, 17,000 won outside.. On Boknal, what's your choice? [Masitsu]

[Financial News] #. Housewife A is contemplating how to nourish her family of four ahead of this year's Chobok (July 20). Recently, due to the impact of high inflation, the price of a single bowl of Samgyetang has exceeded 20,000 won in many restaurants. However, cooking it at home is also burdensome. The hassle of grocery shopping and the impact of abnormal weather like heatwaves have caused a sharp rise in food prices.

As the Boknal season approaches, the demand for Samgyetang, a representative health food, is increasing. However, due to the impact of high inflation, restaurants charging over 20,000 won for a bowl of Samgyetang are emerging, increasing the burden of dining out. While buying ingredients and cooking at home can reduce economic burden, the hassle of shopping must be considered. Additionally, the 'food price' that has soared due to heatwaves is also a burden. The cost of buying ingredients and cooking Samgyetang at home from traditional markets has increased by about 35% compared to five years ago.
According to Korea Price Information, a professional price research institute, as of the 19th, the cost of cooking Samgyetang for four people using ingredients such as four young chickens, four ginseng roots, and four cups of glutinous rice from traditional markets is estimated at 36,260 won. This reflects the prices of seven ingredients for Samgyetang, including young chicken, ginseng, glutinous rice, garlic, chestnuts, green onions, and medicinal herbs for broth.
The cost per serving is 9,065 won. This is a 34.9% increase from five years ago (26,870 won) and a 12.4% increase from last year (32,260 won).
Among the seven ingredients for Samgyetang, the prices of four items, including young chicken, glutinous rice, garlic, and green onions, have risen significantly compared to the previous year.
In traditional markets, the price of four young chickens (2kg) has increased by 12.5% from 16,000 won last year to 18,000 won this year. Chickens for Samgyetang are mainly used in sizes 5 to 6 (500 to 600g).
Four cups (800g) of glutinous rice have risen by 59.3% from 2,700 won to 4,300 won, 20 cloves (50g) of garlic have increased by 20.0% from 500 won to 600 won, and 300g of green onions have risen by 20.0% from 1,500 won to 1,800 won. However, four ginseng roots remain at 5,000 won, four chestnuts at 560 won, and medicinal herbs for broth at 6,000 won, the same as last year.



The price of young chickens, a key ingredient in Samgyetang, has risen due to mass deaths caused by heatwaves and the special demand during Boknal. The price of glutinous rice is on the rise due to reduced cultivation area and decreased production. Garlic and green onions have also shown an upward trend in prices due to poor growth conditions caused by recent weather conditions.
In addition to the surge in demand due to the Boknal season, concerns about supply disruptions due to the summer peak season, monsoon, and heatwaves are adding to the pressure on price increases.
On the other hand, the average price of a bowl of Samgyetang when dining out is nearly double the cost of cooking at home. According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal 'Chamgagae', as of May, the price of a bowl of Samgyetang in Seoul was 17,654 won. This is about a 4.5% increase compared to the same month last year (16,885 won).
In line with this, competition among distribution industries such as large supermarkets and convenience stores to capture the 'Chobok special demand' is intensifying. Large supermarkets are selling Samgyetang ingredients at prices cheaper than 10 years ago, and convenience stores are introducing convenient home health food menus, targeting consumers with a 'cost-effectiveness (performance compared to price)' strategy.
E-Mart is selling 'domestic antibiotic-free two young chickens' for 3,580 won to customers who purchase with an event card until the 20th, and Homeplus is selling 'antibiotic-free two young chickens' for 3,663 won. E-Mart initially announced that the product would be sold for 3,980 won, but lowered the price by 400 won due to price competition.

ssuccu@fnnews.com Kim Seoyeon Reporter