Chuseok shoppers are cutting corners — and cuts of meat
With Chuseok approaching, many shoppers in South Korea are trying to reduce their grocery expenses. At a Lotte Mart in Seoul, Kim Soo-min chose to buy a quarter of a cabbage instead of a whole one. Although the whole cabbage was cheaper per kilogram, the smaller piece cost less overall. She decided to buy only what she needed and save money.
Vegetable prices have increased significantly. Consumer prices rose 3.1% in August compared with the previous year, while vegetable prices increased 12.4% from the previous month. The average cost of preparing a traditional Chuseok table with 28 items reached 303,750 won, which was 4% higher than last year.
Because of higher prices, shoppers are choosing more imported food. Sales of U.S. beef and Australian beef increased much more than sales of Korean beef at Lotte Mart. Some shoppers also prefer imported pork and fish because they are cheaper. For families preparing large amounts of food for Chuseok, buying Korean ingredients can be a heavy financial burden.
Shoppers are also choosing cheaper cuts of meat. Instead of expensive pork belly, many customers are buying foreleg and hind leg cuts, which can cost about half as much. People are finding new ways to use these cheaper cuts, such as slicing them for bulgogi or grinding them for meatballs and pork cutlets.
Another growing trend is buying smaller portions. Customers are choosing precut cabbage, fruit cups, and smaller packages because the total price is lower. Even if the price per kilogram is higher, shoppers prefer to spend less money at one time. Experts say food prices may continue to rise because of factors such as demand, oil prices, and exchange rates, so longer-term solutions are needed.
Edited using generative AI tools.
Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/business/chuseok-shoppers-are-cutting-corners-and-cuts-of-meat/12881428 |
