Seol holiday memorial table expense was found to be 22% cheaper at traditional markets than at big-box stores.
The Small Enterprise and Market Service said on Feb. 6 that it conducted a price comparison survey of 28 Seol ritual food items at 37 traditional markets nationwide and 37 nearby big-box stores from Jan. 26 to 30. The survey found that, for a family of four, the Seol memorial table expense averaged 324,260 won at traditional markets and 415,002 won at big-box stores. Traditional markets were cheaper by 90,742 won (21.9%).
By item, the price competitiveness of traditional markets was even more pronounced. Vegetables showed the largest price gap at 50.9%, followed by seafood (34.8%) and meat (25.0%), with traditional markets holding the advantage. Of the total 28 surveyed items, traditional markets were cheaper than big-box stores in 22 items.
In particular, items where traditional markets had a price edge were peeled balloon flower root (70.4%), bracken (61.3%), pollock fillet (51.2%), jujube (46.5%), beef for tangguk (44.8%), ground pork (30.2%), and mung bean sprouts (27.0%), was found.
In Tae-yeon, chair of SEMAS, said, "These survey results show that traditional markets are a choice that can reduce the price burden when shopping for the Seol holiday," and added, "We hope you will shop at traditional markets for the Seol holiday, easing the household burden and sharing warmth with neighboring merchants to spend a warm holiday."