Prices of Korean traditional chicken soup samgyetang soar 13% in past year

Samgyetang, a traditional chicken soup in South Korea [Image source: Gettyimagesbank]

Prices of samgyetang, a traditional chicken soup in South Korea made with whole chicken, ginseng, and other herbs, have soared 12.7 percent in the past year as the price of the main ingredient has jumped sharply due to the outbreak of avian influenza (AI).

According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of samgyetang in Seoul was 16,346 won per dish last month, up 1.4 percent from February. It was the steepest rise among 7 other menus for dining out, such as naengmyeon, cold buckwheat noodles, and jajangmyeon, Korean-style noodles with soybean sauce.

The price of samgyetang rose 12.7 percent over the past year, the second-biggest hike after jajangmyeon (16.3 percent).

The surge in the price of the traditional chicken soup that is believed to help people get through the heat of summer comes as the price of the main ingredient, chicken, has increased sharply.

According to an analysis by Maeil Business Newspaper of poultry price data from the Korea Broiler Council on Thursday, the ex-farm price of a whole chicken used in the soup, mostly between the size 45 and 55, was 3,580 won in April, up 28.8 percent from 2,780 won three months ago. The price rose nearly 40 percent from a year ago.

In the past, poultry prices rose near or during the summer between June and August when demand for samgyetang grows. This year, however, the price jump has come much earlier than in previous years.

The biggest factor is believed to be the outbreak of AI in February, which led to the culling of some 800,000 birds nationwide.

“Poultry prices will be back to normal when the bird flu factors wane next month,” said an official from the Korea Broiler Council.