"Pork belly for 990 won? We sell it for 880"...Big-box retailers in lowest-price battle

With Samgyeopsal Day on March 3 approaching, retailers are locked in a "100-won battle." To ease grocery costs amid high prices, they are promoting pork belly at 800–900 won per 100 grams, intensifying a lowest-price showdown among major discount chains.
According to industry sources on the 25th, Emart will sell Tantan Pork pork belly and neck (100g) for 880 won during the first week of its Goraeit Festa promotion, from the 26th of this month to March 4, in line with Samgyeopsal Day. The company has expanded its supply of pork belly and neck to 760 tons, adding a volume offensive. It will also offer Crispy Outside, Tender Inside Square Pork Belly (100g) at 1,080 won and frozen thin-sliced pork belly (daepae samgyeopsal, 2kg) at 17,580 won. In addition, domestic chilled pork belly and neck will be sold at half price when paid in full with designated event cards from the 28th to March 3, with the exact prices to be announced on the day of sale.
Lotte Mart is countering with its Tongkeun Day promotion, running from the 26th of this month to March 2. It will sell imported Kkeutdwae Pork Belly (100g) for 990 won when paid with event cards, and domestic pork belly (100g) for 1,390 won. It is also rolling out a broad value-for-money meat lineup, including Mannung Daepae Frozen Pork Belly (Five-layer Cut, 700g) for 8,990 won and All-purpose Thinly Sliced Pork Belly (800g) for 9,990 won. The retailer will pair these with linked discounts such as buy-one-get-one-free on all ssamjang products and special prices on vegetables.

As more single-person households cook at home, convenience stores are also jumping into the Samgyeopsal Day competition. CU Convenience Store (CU) had previously marked March 3 as Triangle Kimbap Day, but three years ago it shifted the focus to Samgyeopsal Day. A CU representative explained, "This strategic shift reflects the trend of consumers grilling meat at home instead of dining out due to high prices, and puts fresh meat front and center instead of triangle kimbap, which has been the signature convenience-store item."
When CU first introduced Samgyeopsal Day in 2023, sales of chilled fresh meat during the event period (March 1–3) surged 8.3 times, or 737.2%, from a year earlier. Sales then grew 49.8% in 2024 and 64.5% in 2025, maintaining strong momentum. From the 26th of this month to March 3, CU will sell five types of fresh meat at 1,300–2,200 won per 100 grams. In particular, it is positioning 300-gram packs of domestic pork belly and pork neck, priced at 6,600 won and tailored to single-person households, as key strategic products. The chain also plans to boost competitiveness with additional benefits tied to payment methods and free ssamjang giveaways.
A BGF Retail representative stated, "We have prepared reasonable prices and discount benefits in line with the growing trend of people grilling meat at home instead of eating out due to high prices," adding, "We will continue to roll out a variety of promotions so that customers can easily purchase fresh, trustworthy ingredients without feeling burdened."
localplace@fnnews.com Kim Hyun-ji Reporter