South Korea’s agriculture ministry launched a nationwide pork discount campaign on April 22, aiming to ease consumer burden as wholesale pork prices climbed amid seasonal demand and production slowdowns.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the initiative, which runs through May 31, leveraging pork producer association funds to discount key cuts like samgyeopsal and neck meat by up to 30% at eight major supermarket chains. Online, the official Hanwool Mall offers 50% off 2kg samgyeopsal-neck sets from April 27 to May 15, while platforms like Naver, Gmarket, Auction, and Musinsa provide 20-40% discounts on similar cuts during the same period.
Officials acknowledged the price pressure: wholesale pork prices were 25.4% above seasonal averages and 11.7% higher than a year ago as of mid-April, according to ministry data. Yet they emphasized supply stability, noting slaughter volumes remain comparable to last year despite the price uptick driven by seasonal consumption growth and lower productivity.
The ministry cited external pressures, particularly Middle East instability, as a factor in broader food inflation concerns, framing the pork discounts as part of a wider strategy to stabilize livestock prices. Similar support extends to chicken and eggs, with ongoing efforts to secure fertile eggs and fresh chicken imports to prepare for peak demand periods.
Beyond livestock, the ministry’s April 20 supply meeting revealed a mixed picture: while livestock prices remain elevated due to disease outbreaks and reduced shipments, most vegetable prices have fallen sharply. Carrots, cabbage, and onions dropped between 17.8% and 44.1% year-on-year, prompting market isolation and reserve releases to stimulate consumption. Only chili peppers showed resilience due to reduced sunlight lowering yields, though officials expect prices to ease as weather improves.
The ministry also addressed packaging supply risks, announcing joint inter-agency inspections starting this week to prevent hoarding or market disruption from declining packaging output, a move designed to safeguard food distribution channels.
Officials signaled the measures may extend beyond May, with plans to continue pork and beef discount campaigns into June and beyond, contingent on market conditions. The approach reflects a calibrated response — using industry funds to temper prices without masking underlying supply dynamics, while preparing for multiple fronts of inflationary pressure.
How long will the pork discounts last?
The discount campaign runs from April 22 to May 31, 2026, with online promotions on platforms like Naver and Gmarket continuing through May 31, and the official Hanwool Mall offering deeper discounts from April 27 to May 15.
Why are pork prices rising if slaughter numbers are stable?
Ministry officials attribute the price increase to seasonal demand growth and temporary productivity declines, not a shortage of animals, noting that slaughter volumes remain comparable to the previous year despite the wholesale price rise.
