Comparing Chuseok Apple, Pear, and Hanwoo Prices: How to Read Traditional Market and Supermarket Prices on KAMIS
By matching the varieties, grades, and units of apples, pears, and Hanwoo in KAMIS, you can compare surveyed prices at traditional markets and supermarkets. To avoid misleading price impressions, check not only listed prices but also previous-year and average prices, conditional discounts, and the time remaining until Chuseok.
- Prices at traditional markets and supermarkets can be compared directly only when the variety, cut, grade, and survey unit are the same, even for the same item.
- The actual weight is needed to convert per-piece prices for apples and pears into prices by weight; they must not be arbitrarily converted based on the number of pieces alone.
- Daily prices are useful when choosing where to buy immediately, while previous-year and average prices should also be reviewed when assessing overall price levels.
- Card, membership, and promotional discounts must be recorded separately from unconditional surveyed prices to compare actual payment costs.
- Price differences before and after government measures must be tracked using the same number of days remaining until Chuseok and the same day of the week, and changes alone cannot establish the effects of a policy.
The most common mistake when comparing apple, pear, and Hanwoo prices ahead of Chuseok is assuming that products with the same item name are identical. If the variety, size or grade, Hanwoo cut, or survey unit differs, the displayed figures cannot be compared directly.
KAMIS Agricultural Marketing Information Service is an official service that lets users view surveyed prices by item at traditional markets and large retailers. However, KAMIS prices are not real-time transaction data from every store; they are collected and published according to established survey standards. You should therefore separately check promotional conditions and inventory at the store you plan to visit.
Traditional Markets or Large Supermarkets: Which Is Right for You?
It cannot be concluded that one type of retailer is always cheaper. Consider KAMIS survey prices for the same specifications alongside actual purchase conditions and decide based on your shopping habits.
| Comparison item | Traditional markets | Large supermarkets and large retailers |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited for | Shoppers who want flexibility in the quantity purchased and to select the size and condition in person | Shoppers who want to check package units, origin, grade labels, and promotional conditions and purchase everything at once |
| Price to compare | Traditional market survey price for the same region, item, specification, and unit | Large retailer survey price under the same conditions |
| Additional costs and conditions | Travel time, parking fees, and price differences among stores must be considered | Discounts may vary depending on membership, payment card, app coupons, and purchase quantity |
| Advantages | Quantity selection and in-person inspection may be relatively flexible | Specifications and conditions are often displayed, making comparisons easier |
| Drawbacks | Product specifications and prices at individual stores may differ from the survey average | Even if the regular price appears low, the actual discount may require meeting specific conditions |
| Final check | Actual specifications, sales unit, and price at the store you plan to visit | Promotion period, card conditions, per-person limits, and final payment amount |
Even if traditional market prices appear lower on KAMIS, this does not mean that actual prices at nearby stores are the same. Conversely, applying a large supermarket’s card discount or bundle promotion may produce a result different from the surveyed price.
Criteria You Must Match Before Comparing
Apples and Pears
For apples and pears, match all of the following:
- Item and variety: Different varieties of apples should be treated as separate products.
- Grade or quality: Do not mix high-grade and medium-grade products in a comparison.
- Survey unit: Check the unit displayed on the screen, such as 10 pieces, 1 piece, or package weight.
- Size and actual weight: Even sets of 10 pieces may have different total weights depending on fruit size.
- Survey region and date: Distribution conditions differ when the region or survey date differs.
In particular, converting the price of 10 pieces into a price per 1kg requires the actual total weight of those 10 pieces. If weight information is unavailable, it is more accurate to compare only units based on the number of pieces and not estimate a price per kg.
Hanwoo
Hanwoo cannot be compared based on the item name alone. At a minimum, the following conditions must be the same:
- Origin and cattle type
- Cut: sirloin, meat for bulgogi, meat for soup, etc.
- Meat quality grade
- Weight unit: for example, 100g or 1kg
- Whether refrigerated or frozen, and packaging conditions
Comparing sirloin prices with soup meat prices, or prices for different grades, and then deciding which retailer is cheaper will cause differences in product composition to be mistaken for price differences.
How to Compare Prices on KAMIS
There are no separate eligibility requirements or application periods for checking KAMIS prices. Simply select the required survey date and conditions on the publicly available retail price page.
- Choose the comparison date and region. Prioritize the same date and the same region.
- Narrow down the item. For apples and pears, check the variety and grade; for Hanwoo, check the cut and grade.
- Standardize the unit. If the displayed number or weight units differ, do not compare them directly; convert them into a common unit.
- View retailer types side by side. Record traditional market and large retailer values under the same survey conditions.
- Add previous-year and normal-year benchmarks. Do not look only at current prices; compare them with benchmark prices from a similar period.
- Check actual discount conditions separately. Record the KAMIS surveyed value separately from the price after applying membership, card, or coupon discounts at the store you plan to visit.
Weight conversion can be calculated as follows.
Comparison unit price = displayed price ÷ displayed weight × weight to be compared
For example, when comparing a 600g package with a 1kg package, convert both into a price per 100g or per 1kg. This formula cannot be applied to products such as fruit when only the number of pieces is provided and the actual weight is unavailable.
The difference between retailer types can be calculated as follows.
Price difference = large retailer price − traditional market price
Price difference rate = price difference ÷ traditional market price × 100
A positive rate means that the large retailer price is higher under the relevant survey conditions, while a negative rate means it is lower. This is a comparison of survey averages and does not guarantee the final payment amount at an individual store.
Differences Among Daily, Monthly, Annual, Previous-Year, and Normal-Year Prices
| Benchmark | Meaning and use | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Daily price | Shows the short-term price level on a specific survey date | Check how holidays, gaps in surveys, same-day promotions, and actual inventory are reflected |
| Monthly price | Shows price trends and the average monthly level over one month | The average may dilute sharp changes during the few days immediately before Chuseok |
| Annual price | Compares seasonality and long-term price levels | The range may be too broad for judging prices at the time of Chuseok shopping |
| Previous-year price | Compares with the same date or corresponding period 1 year earlier | Because the date of Chuseok changes each year, the timing of pre-holiday demand may not align |
| Normal-year price | Compares with the typical price level over multiple years | Check the calculation period and definition used on each page |
On KAMIS, normal-year prices are generally provided as a benchmark that uses data from several recent years to reduce the impact of temporary highs and lows. However, display criteria may vary by lookup table and type of statistics, so check the calculation explanation on the relevant page.
Daily prices are the most direct benchmark when deciding where to shop now. To determine whether current prices are unusually high, review previous-year and normal-year prices as well. Monthly and annual prices are more suitable for understanding seasonal trends and long-term levels than for choosing where to buy.
Four Factors That Create Misleading Price Impressions
1. Mixing High-Grade and Medium-Grade Products
Products of different grades are not directly comparable, even if they are the same item. Do not interpret a comparison between inexpensive medium-grade goods and higher-grade goods as a price difference between retailers.
2. Mixing Number of Pieces and Weight
Prices for 10 apples or pears cannot be converted into kg prices without the actual weight. Hanwoo may be sold in various units, including 100g, 600g, and 1kg, so prices must be converted into a common weight.
3. Mixing Regular Prices and Conditional Discount Prices
Membership prices, specific card discounts, coupons, and conditions requiring the purchase of at least 2 items do not apply to everyone. It is advisable to record the following two prices separately:
- Unconditional sales price
- Price after applying discounts for which you actually qualify
4. Mixing Average Survey Values and Individual Store Prices
KAMIS values are official survey data that can be compared, but they do not represent real-time sales prices at every store nationwide. Before making a final purchase, check the price tag, origin, specifications, and promotion end date at the store you plan to visit.
Table for Tracking Actual Prices After Government Measures Are Announced
Reports on the Chuseok cost-of-living stabilization measures announced on September 1, 2026 proposed expanding supplies of high-demand holiday items, including apples and pears. The announcement of supply expansion or discount measures alone does not mean that retail prices in every region and at every retailer will immediately fall by the same amount.
Repeatedly checking the same specifications in the following format makes it easier to identify the direction of actual surveyed prices.
| Survey date | Timing relative to Chuseok | Item and variety or cut | Grade | Standard unit | Traditional market | Large retailer | Previous year | Normal year | Actual discount conditions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before announcement | D-days | Benchmark | ||||||||
| Immediately after announcement | D-days | Short-term change | ||||||||
| 1 week later | D-days | Check supply impact | ||||||||
| Immediately before the holiday | D-days | Check peak-season demand |
The rate of change before and after the announcement can be calculated as follows.
Rate of change = (price after announcement − price before announcement) ÷ price before announcement × 100
A decrease or increase observed only once or twice should not be conclusively attributed to the measures. Shipment volumes, weather, quality composition, holiday demand, and retailer promotions can also affect prices.
An Easily Overlooked Comparison Criterion: Chuseok D-Day Adjustment
The Gregorian calendar date of Chuseok changes every year. Therefore, comparing a specific date in September this year with the same Gregorian calendar date in the previous year may place the two dates at different stages of Chuseok demand.
For a more accurate comparison, align not only the calendar date but also the time remaining until the holiday.
- This year’s Chuseok D-21 and the previous year’s Chuseok D-21
- This year’s D-14 and the previous year’s D-14
- This year’s D-7 and the previous year’s D-7
- This year’s D-3 and the previous year’s D-3
Day-of-week effects should also be considered. Where possible, compare survey values from the same day of the week within the same D-day range, or use the average of several survey dates. This approach helps distinguish changes before and after government measures from the usual increase in holiday demand.
How to Convert Prices into Actual Shopping Costs
To compare the cost of the entire holiday meal rather than the unit price of one item, first determine the quantity to purchase.
Item cost = standardized unit price × required quantity
Total shopping cost = apple cost + pear cost + Hanwoo cost + cost of other items
Because each household requires different quantities, KAMIS prices alone cannot determine a universal total cost for a holiday meal. For apples and pears, first decide the number needed and the actual package weight; for Hanwoo, decide the weight required for each cooking purpose. Then calculate the total for each retailer. Including additional purchasing costs such as transportation, delivery fees, and membership fees will produce a comparison closer to your actual choices.
Criteria for Interpreting Comparison Results
- A traditional market may be suitable if you want to purchase small quantities flexibly and inspect the condition in person.
- A large supermarket may be convenient if you want to purchase everything at once while using specification labels and conditional promotions.
- If the price difference is small, compare transportation costs, delivery fees, travel time, and certainty of inventory as well.
- If it is uncertain whether a discount will apply, set your budget based on the regular price and treat the discount amount as additional savings.
- If the KAMIS surveyed price differs from the actual store price, use the store price confirmed before final payment when making your purchase decision.
FAQ
Are KAMIS prices real-time retail prices at large supermarkets and traditional markets?
No. KAMIS provides price information collected and published according to established survey criteria; it is not real-time aggregated data on POS transaction prices from every store. You must separately check each store's inventory, member discounts, card promotions, and actual payment prices.
Which is always cheaper, traditional markets or large supermarkets?
Neither can be considered always cheaper. Results vary depending on the region, survey date, variety, grade, cut, unit of sale, and promotion conditions. Compare KAMIS prices under the same conditions, then decide after also considering travel costs and actual discount conditions.
Can I compare the price of 10 apples with the price per 1kg?
You can convert it to a price per kg only if you know the actual total weight of the 10 apples. Because the weight of 10 apples varies depending on their size, making an arbitrary conversion without weight information is inaccurate.
What factors must be kept the same when comparing Hanwoo beef prices?
You must keep the origin and livestock type, cut, meat quality grade, chilled or frozen status, and weight unit the same. Directly comparing sirloin with soup meat or different grades may cause differences in quality and intended use to be mistaken for price differences between retailers.
When assessing current Chuseok grocery prices, should I look at daily or monthly prices?
Recent daily prices are more directly relevant when deciding where to shop right away. Monthly prices are useful for viewing the overall trend for the month, but averages may dilute sharp changes during the few days immediately before the holiday.
How do last year's prices differ from average-year prices?
Last year's prices are values compared with the corresponding point one year earlier, while average-year prices are a benchmark showing the typical level over several years. Check the explanation on the KAMIS screen you are using for the specific period and calculation method used for the average-year prices.
Can I directly compare large supermarket card-discount prices with KAMIS prices?
Because card, member, and coupon discounts have eligibility conditions, it is better to record them separately from surveyed prices without such conditions. Use the final price after the discount as a separate comparison value only if you can meet the conditions.
If prices fall after the government announces supply measures, can that be considered a policy effect?
Even if a price decline is observed, that alone cannot establish causality. Shipment volumes, weather, quality composition, retailer promotions, and holiday demand also have an impact, so you should track the same specifications over multiple dates and interpret the results alongside last year's and average-year trends.
Is it enough to compare Chuseok prices with the same date in the previous year?
Because the solar-calendar date of Chuseok changes every year, comparing only the same date may not align the number of days remaining until the holiday. Align the comparison points relative to the holiday, such as D-14 and D-7 before the previous year's Chuseok, and adjust for the day of the week as well if possible.
Sources
Images
