Charye Table Costs Fall Nationwide, but Seoul Sees a 5.1% Rise
The average cost of preparing a chuseok charye (ancestral rite) table across South Korea this year fell 1.5% from last year to 196,630 won, while Seoul saw the opposite trend with a 5.1% increase. Prices moved differently by region and retail channel, meaning the burden of the same holiday table can vary significantly depending on where you shop.
The survey, released by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 19th, was based on prices collected on September 18, a week before Chuseok, for 24 items in 8 categories—including vegetables, fruits, and livestock products—for a family of four at 17 traditional markets and 36 large supermarkets across 22 regions nationwide.
Disparities were stark across categories. Livestock products rose 2.5% from last year, while fruit fell 7.2%, seafood 4.9%, and forest products 8.4%. By retail channel, rice, vegetables, fruit, and livestock products were cheaper at large retailers, while seafood, forest products, and processed foods were cheaper at traditional markets.
The decline was driven by large-scale discounts. According to aT, charye table costs at large retailers fell 7.6% from last year, thanks to government discount support, NongHyup's half-price holiday table discounts, and retailers' own promotions. Traditional markets saw a 1.6% increase. Lee Jae-wook, aT's supply and demand director, said, "With the government rolling out its largest-ever discount support program for agricultural and livestock products this Chuseok, we will do our best to ensure a stable supply of holiday staples and ease consumer price burdens, including holiday table costs, through the rest of the season."
Seoul told a different story. According to data released by the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation on the 18th, the cost of a chuseok charye table in Seoul this year rose 5.1% from last year, based on the average across three retail channels. The survey, conducted on September 9, compared the cost of 34 holiday staple items for a family of six at 25 locations, including 16 traditional markets, 8 large supermarkets, and Garak Market. By channel, Garak Market was the cheapest at 228,000 won, followed by traditional markets at 245,051 won and large supermarkets at 290,711 won.
Vegetables led the price increases. Average vegetable prices rose 14.7% from last year, pulling up the overall figure. Zucchini jumped 43.8%, radishes 24.9%, and bellflower roots 23.0%, while points of increased supply—nappa cabbage and green onions—fell 9.6% and 2.0%, respectively. Livestock products rose an average of 7.4%, and fruit climbed 3.6%.
