Chuseok ceremonial food costs average 309,380 KRW

As the Chuseok holiday approaches, the average cost for a four-person family to prepare a ceremonial table is estimated at approximately 309,380 KRW. According to the Korea Consumer Federation's Price Monitoring Center, this represents a 1.2% decrease compared to three weeks ago, though individual item prices vary significantly.

Prices for certain key items have risen, most notably dried yellow croaker, which increased by 19.6%, as well as apples (11.8%) and pears (11.1%). Conversely, costs for items such as jujubes (-14.9%), beef for ritual use (-9.2%), and eggs (-3.6%) have declined, aided by government price stabilization measures and large-scale discounts at major retail outlets.

Comparing current costs to last year, the total expense for ceremonial items remains relatively stable with a 0.5% increase. However, seafood prices have risen by 16.6% year-on-year, while fruit prices have decreased by 5.1%. Shopping at large supermarkets has proven most cost-effective, showing a 9.0% decrease compared to the previous year, whereas traditional markets and general supermarkets saw increases of 3.8% and 6.9%, respectively.