Prices in Jeju for many food items are rising lately and they don’t look likely drop anytime in the near future. Mike Laidman reports.

Report

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Dongmun Market in Jeju City

Prices at traditional markets are usually a little bit lower than at supermarkets, but recently, shoppers are spending less because of increases.

INTERVIEW
Jeon Lee-ok / Shopper, Dongmun Market
I used to come here every day, but because of rising prices I now often go to supermarkets. Fish caught around Jeju, like mackerel, are too expensive and most of the fish at this market are imported.
<인터뷰 : 전이옥/제주시 일도동 >
"하루에 한 번 장 보러 오는 편이었는데 이제는 마트에도 가고 그래요. 전체적으로 많이 올랐어요. 예전에는 고등어든 뭐든 다 쌌는데 이제는 거의 수입산이고 제주산은 너무 비싸요."

Prices that first started soaring due to the nationwide outbreak of bird flu haven't budged, with chicken still on the rise.

Vegetable prices that increased because of last year’s early heat wave and tropical storm have yet to return to normal levels, too.


Green onions have increased 58% to 2,860 won per kilogram over the last 12 months alone.

Cabbages, meanwhile, have jumped 52% over the same period.



Prices of farm produce like radish, chives and carrot are 60 percent higher than them in 2016.

As local fishermen see fewer catches, fish prices have also risen.


Looking at fish, hairtail has increased from 18,800 won to 22,000 won per kilogram over the last 12 months.

Over the same period, squid is up 61% to 7,600 won per kilogram.

With consumers spending less and less, merchants can’t do much but sigh.

INTERVIEW
Choi Gyeong / Merchant, Dongmun Market
Three hairtail used to be 50,000 won, now you can only get two for that. Shoppers simply aren’t choosing to buy them.
<인터뷰 : 최경/상인>
"3마리에 5만 원하던 갈치가 이제는 2마리에 5만 원정도 해요. 예전에 찾았던 손님들이 가격이 오르다 보니 많이 안 드세요."

Last month, rising necessity prices in Jeju were the highest in Korea at 2.8%, but this actually translates to an even larger 3.3% in perceived increase to shoppers.

Looking ahead, prices are not likely to drop anytime soon.

Mike Laidman, KCTV