With the fishing ban lifted on the 21st, the three big-box chains simultaneously rolled out freshly caught fall blue crabs. Coupang and Kurly joined in. Prices clustered tightly between 680 won and 690 won per 100 grams, setting up a battle down to the single won.
A closed season for blue crabs runs every year from June 21 to Aug. 20 to protect the spawning period. Retailers release supplies en masse on the first day the ban ends because the year's biggest seafood sales season begins then.
The lowest price came from Kurly. From the 21st to the 23rd, Kurly is selling "Potluck direct-from-origin Sinjindo fall cold-water-rub fresh blue crabs" (2 kg) for 13,600 won. With a 20% coupon from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, that comes to 680 won per 100 grams. The company said the crabs are caught with nets rather than pots and are packed in ice slurry right at the origin.
From the 21st to the 24th, Coupang is selling "FishOne direct-from-origin Sinjindo fall gill-net fresh blue crabs" (3 kg, 9–12 crabs) for 688 won per 100 grams. That is about 10% lower than last year's lowest-priced item (760 won per 100 grams. Coupang's blue crab purchases this year are expected to reach about 150 tons, up 50% from the prior year (a little over 100 tons). It also expanded source regions from five to seven by adding Yeonpyeong and Ongjin in Incheon.
Among big-box stores, E-MART offered 689 won per 100 grams, and Homeplus Co. set 690 won. E-MART will apply its price for three days from the 21st to the 23rd, 52 won lower than last year's promotional price (741 won). It secured supply by signing exclusive contracts with more than 50 vessels at key West Sea origins including Taean, South Chungcheong, and prepared around 20 tons for the first day of the promotion, more than 70% higher than last year.
Homeplus Co. put out "cold-water-rub stunned blue crabs" at 690 won for the same period. It is one of the special thank-you sale items ongoing since the store's reopening on the 13th.
Lotte Mart and Lotte Super sought to differentiate on product quality rather than price. From the 21st to the 26th, they are selling "Honey Sleep blue crabs" at 966 won per 100 grams with a 30% discount when paying with a promotional card. The method stabilizes movement by submerging the crabs in seawater at 5 degrees Celsius or lower right after the catch, then covering them with sawdust and delivering them directly to stores, which the company said allows it to sell crabs caught at dawn alive in the afternoon of the same day. It operates a dedicated fleet of 25 vessels and increased specialized packing facilities from eight to nine. Lotte Super will begin sales on the 22nd.