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Meat prices jump over 10% on animal disease outbreaks

Published: 05 Mar. 2026, 15:29 Updated: 05 Mar. 2026, 16:24

Customers look at products at the meat section of a supermarket in Seoul on Feb. 3. [YONHAP]

Food prices in Korea are rising sharply as pork, domestic beef and chicken prices have all seen double-digit percentage jumps from a year earlier, with rice and fruit also getting more expensive.

The average retail price of samgyeopsal (pork belly), the most popular cut of pork in the country, reached 2,637 won per 100 grams ($8 per pound) as of Wednesday, up 13.5 percent from a year earlier, data from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation showed Thursday.

Other pork cuts also rose. Pork shoulder butt cost 2,442 won per 100 grams, up 14.5 percent on year, while pork front leg increased 11.8 percent to 1,548 won.

Hanwoo (domestic beef) prices also climbed. Tenderloin from grade 1+ cattle rose 10.8 percent to 15,247 won per 100 grams, while sirloin gained 13 percent to 12,361 won. Brisket increased 14.3 percent to 6,772 won, and prices for ribs and top round also remained above last year’s levels.

Chicken prices increased as well. The average price of broiler chicken reached 6,263 won per kilogram (2.2 pounds), up 11.1 percent from a year earlier.

A tray of 30 large eggs cost 6,852 won, up 5.9 percent.

Officials say that animal disease outbreaks have reduced supply and pushed livestock prices higher. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs cited African swine fever (ASF) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) outbreaks as the main causes.

Authorities have reported 22 ASF cases so far this year, more than triple the six cases recorded in all of last year. Highly pathogenic AI cases have exceeded 50 this winter.

Prices of imported beef have surged as well. The price of U.S. chilled chuck eye roll reached 4,089 won per 100 grams, up 63.7 percent from a year earlier, reflecting the impact of the weak won.

Bags of rice are stacked at a supermarket in Seoul on Feb. 3. [NEWS1]

Rice prices also remain elevated. The average retail price of rice stood above 63,000 won for a 20-kilogram bag, about 15 percent higher than a year earlier.

The government plans to release up to 150,000 tons of state rice reserves in stages to stabilize prices, though the measure has had limited impact so far.

Vegetable prices have stabilized for open-field crops, though some greenhouse vegetables remain expensive. Spinach cost 1,060 won per 100 grams, up 11 percent from a year earlier, while lettuce, bell pepper and garlic also remained at relatively high levels.

Fruit prices have also gone up. Fuji apples — the most common variety in Korea — cost 28,108 won per 10 apples, up 2.7 percent from a year earlier.

Imported fruit prices have also surged as the weak won has increased costs. Bananas cost 346 won per 100 grams, up 16.5 percent on year, while mangoes jumped a whopping 43 percent to 5,674 won per fruit.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [[email protected]]