Korean retailers offer affordable summertime stamina food amid rising prices

At GS The Fresh, consumers are putting stamina foods in carts. [Photo provided by GS Retail]

South Korean retailers, from large discount stores to convenience stores and e-commerce platforms, are offering affordable stamina food for the summer time as the price of samgyetang, a traditional ginseng chicken soup that is commonly sought to beat the heat, soars on higher chicken prices.

According to data from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation on Thursday, the retail price of chicken stood at 6,259 won ($4.78) per kilogram, up 10.2 percent from the same period last year.

Last month, the average retail price of chicken was 6,439 won per kilogram, up 12.6 percent from a year ago.

The surge comes as farmers have reduced the number of chickens they breed to cope with higher production costs such as that of animal feeds, resulting in higher retail prices of chicken.

Data from the Korea Consumer Agency showed that the average price of samgyetang at restaurants in Seoul was 16,423 won in May, up 12.7 percent from 14,577 won a year earlier. At some places, the price has even reached 20,000 won.

Large supermarket chains and convenience stores, in the meantime, are launching their own stamina food ahead of Chobok, one of the hottest times of the year, on July 11.

Emart Inc. is selling a 500-gram pack of two domestically-bred antibiotic-free chickens for 6,948 won when paid with one of the credit cards as part of an event that lasts until July 12.

The retailer is also selling a 1,050-gram pack of chicken for 10,980 won with a Shinsegae point membership card. A package of other samgyetang ingredients, which includes astragalus and jujube, are sold at 4,980 won.

GS The Fresh, a supermarket operated by GS Retail Co., is offering a discount on 100,000 chicken packs until July 11.

Convenience stores have also released a series of stamina products ahead of Chobok.

7-Eleven offers eel, a symbol of strength and stamina, which has become popular among young people with growing demand for Japanese-style eel rice bowls called “hitsumabushi” at restaurants.

The company offers a lunch package with booked freshwater eel and smoked duck at 9,900 won. Marinated grilled freshwater eel lunch boxes also cost 8,900 won.

Emart24 is even partnering with Ramura, a restaurant known for its nourishing instant noodle ramyeon, to launch a collaboration product on July 11.

Ramura’s signature ramyeon is characterized by a rich chicken broth with a variety of toppings such as chicken legs, quail eggs, and bracken.

CU run by BGF Retail Co. has released premium products in time for Chobok, including ginseng chicken soup at 11,900 won, chicken soup at 6,500 won, and chicken kalguksu, or hand-cut noodles, at 6,900 won.