Recently, an office worker named Kwon stopped in front of a samgyetang restaurant in Seoul after seeing the menu outside. The price for his favorite bowl of samgyetang had exceeded 20,000 won. Kwon remarked, "It used to be a tradition to eat samgyetang with colleagues on Chobok, but now it's become too expensive. This year, I plan to buy ready-made samgyetang and cook it at home."
As the price of samgyetang, a popular summer health food, continues to rise, the way people celebrate Chobok is changing. Instead of dining out, more consumers are opting for home-cooked meals using convenient ready-made options, leading to a surge in demand for what is known as 'home health food.' The food industry is responding by launching new products that offer restaurant-quality taste and competitive pricing.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal, 'Chamgak', the average price for a serving of samgyetang in Seoul last month was 18,154 won, a 2.8% increase from 17,654 won during the same period last year. In some well-known restaurants, the price for a bowl of samgyetang has already surpassed 20,000 won.
The rising costs of raw materials are also a concern. The Korea Institute of Animal Products Quality Evaluation reported that the average price of broiler chickens as of June 28 was 6,605 won per kilogram, an 18.6% increase from last year's average of 5,668 won.
This inflation has led to increased demand for ready-made health foods. From March to May this year, sales of samgyetang HMR (home meal replacement) products from Shinsegae Food rose by 38% compared to the same period last year. Notably, sales in May, when the early heat began, surged by 55% year-on-year. Online, ready-made samgyetang is available for under 10,000 won per pack, about half the price of restaurant offerings, making it an attractive option for consumers.
Food companies are introducing new products that incorporate innovative ingredients and techniques to cater to increasingly discerning consumers. Shinsegae Food has expanded its product line by adding 'Proper and Straightforward Farro Samgyetang' to its existing offerings of 'Olban Nutritional Samgyetang' and 'Olban Samgyetang Jeong,' utilizing ancient grain farro.
Ottogi has launched 'Neungi Samgyetang,' which features domestic chilled chicken with matsutake mushrooms, garlic, and ginkgo nuts, targeting consumers in their 40s and 50s. CJ CheilJedang has introduced 'Bibigo Perilla Seed Nurungji Samgyetang,' which improves the cooking process to reduce bone fragmentation, a common issue with ready-made samgyetang.
The variety of health foods is also expanding. Dongwon F&B has released 'Yangban Health Black Goat Soup' using naturally raised black goats and 'Yangban Beef Bone Soup' utilizing Hanwoo beef bone broth, broadening its offerings beyond samgyetang. Hotel Shilla has launched nine premium health food gift sets, including 'Premium Shilla Samgyetang' and 'Premium Hanwoo Galbitang,' targeting the premium market.
An industry insider noted, "In the past, it was common to visit samgyetang restaurants on Chobok, but now more consumers are enjoying ready-made products that replicate restaurant-quality flavors at home. The improvement in the quality of ready-made meals, the rise of single-person households, and ongoing inflation are all contributing to the notable growth of the ready-made health food market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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