While the prices of the dining table are generally high, large onions in particular have become so expensive that they are called gold waves. It’s about 9,000 won to buy a bunch of green onions at marts, but as a result, more and more consumers are growing and eating green onions at home.
Reporter Han Ji-yeon.
<기자>
A traditional market in Seoul. A single green onion sells for 6,000 won.
[강귀임/채소가게 상인 : 1천700원, 2천 원 이렇게 팔았었는데, 이렇게 많이 오른 건 처음이라니까. 내가 채소 장사 40년 해도….]
At large supermarkets, the cost of a single green onion is close to 7,000 won, but the burden on consumers is increasing as it is a basic ingredient used in both soup, stew, and side dishes.
In some marts, it soared close to 9,000 won.
There are also many consumers who check the price and quietly put it down.
[소비자 : 깜짝 놀랐네. 나 깜짝 놀랐다. 얼마 전에 한 3천 원, 4천 원 사이에 샀거든요. (냉동파) 남은 거 먹다 보면 조금 싸지겠죠.]
The free green onion service provided by butchers to meat buyers has disappeared.
[정육점 상인 : 너무 비싸니까 이제는 그냥 (무료로) 나눠주다가 돈 받고 팔기도 그렇고 해서… (손님들이) 얘기하죠, 당연히. 왜 안 주느냐고.]
Even at a meat restaurant, the basic side dish, green onions, was replaced with other vegetables.
[고깃집 주인 : 파채는 이제 되도록 제공을 안 합니다. 냉이·봄동·무침 같은 걸로 많이 (대체)하는 거죠.]
The price of green onions was 7,598 won per kilogram, which is 3.5 times higher than last year.
As the price of green onions plummeted last year, enough to plow the fields, the cultivation area this year was reduced by nearly 10%, and the effects of cold waves and heavy snow were overlapped.
[김형식/농림축산식품부 원예산업과장 : 대파가 한파에 취약한 특성 때문에 지금 도매시장 반입량의 (지난해) 절반 정도 수준밖에 안 들어오고 있는 상황입니다.]
There are so many videos on social media about growing green onions at home and eating them yourself.
Green onion prices are expected to remain strong until early April, when spring onions are released.
(Video editing: Wonhee Won, VJ: Hyunwoo Park)