Emart sells out 30 tons of Thai webfoot octopus in one month

(Emart)

South Korean discount store chain Emart Inc. has scored a major success with its half-priced Thai webfoot octopus, or jjukkumi. Import demand was high particularly this year as locally caught seafood was nearly impossible to find due to low yields.

According to Emart on Sunday, the retailer began importing Thai jjukkumi in March through a consolidated procurement strategy involving Emart Traders and Emart Everyday.

The company brought in 30 tons last month alone, which sold out entirely after the product was launched as a half-price promotion.

An additional 10 tons were sold from April 1 to 9.

“By being the first in the industry to introduce integrated purchasing, we significantly increased our procurement volume and negotiation power,” said an official from Emart.

In July 2024, Emart unified the operations of Emart Traders and Emart Everyday with its main retail unit.

This shift aimed to replace the previous model, in which the three entities procured products separately, with a joint purchasing system that maximizes cost efficiency.

By importing large volumes via air freight and distributing them simultaneously across all locations, Emart was able to enhance its price competitiveness.

Since March, the retailer has been importing over 30 tons of Thai jjukkumi each month, flying in about one ton every two days—and up to four tons every two days during promotional periods.

Currently, the Thai jjukkumi sold through Emart‘s three retail arms is priced at just 1,980 won ($1.4) per 100 grams—less than half the cost of domestic jjukkumi, which has surged to record highs.

Wholesale prices for local jjukkumi have climbed above 60,000 won per kilogram, putting them in the same price range as luxury seafood items such as octopus, king crab, and black porgy.

According to data from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, domestic jjukkumi production has been declining rapidly, dropping from 4,306 tons in 2020 to 2,957 tons in 2022 and 2,361 tons in 2024.