Chicken Prices Jump ~20% Ahead of Boknal; Retailers and Chains Secure Supply
Creatrip Team
20 days ago
As Korea approaches the first Boknal (summer heat-peak day), chicken consumption has surged and retail chains are racing to secure stock. High-pathogenic avian influenza (AI) this year hit breeding flocks (parent hens), reducing hatching-egg and chick production and squeezing supply, pushing average consumer prices for regular chicken to about 6,579 KRW/kg in June — roughly 18% higher than last year and at times over 20% higher. Major supermarkets (e.g., Emart, Lotte Mart) started early purchasing and precontracts, and producers such as Harim and chicken franchises report stable raw-meat procurement through annual contracts. The government is also stepping in, supporting imports of 17 million hatching eggs and expanding financing to stabilize supply, while retailers plan promotions to ease consumer burden during Boknal.
