Traditional Markets Cheapest for Kimjang in Daejeon This Year
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
A survey in Daejeon finds the cost of making kimjang (traditional Korean communal cabbage pickling) for a four-person household is about 355,237 KRW at traditional markets, cheaper than large supermarkets (393,665 KRW) and big retail chains (423,136 KRW). Overall kimjang costs are virtually unchanged year-on-year. Prices rose for eight items—including mustard greens, green garlic (쪽파), ginger, watercress (미나리), anchovy sauce (멸치액젓), garlic, soil-grown green onion, and salted shrimp—mainly due to lower harvests and higher demand. Seven items fell in price, notably radish and oysters. Forecasts expect modest increases in fall cabbage and radish production, helping stabilize prices. Officials note government discounts through early December of up to 40% on kimjang essentials like cabbage, radish, chili powder, garlic, onion, sea salt (천일염), and salted shrimp, advising consumers to use these sales to reduce costs.
