"Missing Affordable Chicken"... Boycott Emerges Amid Soaring Chicken Prices

No Japan Poster Parody

Recently, as chicken prices have been rising consecutively, a chicken boycott movement is taking place on online communities. Photo by Online Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Wooseok] Recently, as chicken prices have been rising consecutively, some people have been protesting by boycotting chicken.

On the 20th, a post titled 'Chicken Gallery Update' was uploaded on various online communities, drawing attention. The Chicken Gallery parodied the poster of the 2019 Japanese product boycott movement 'No Japan' to create a chicken boycott poster. Instead of the Japanese flag, they inserted a chicken photo and included the phrase 'Boycott Franchise Chicken.'

Below that, it said 'We do not order,' 'We do not eat,' followed by 'It has been 12 years since losing Tongkeun Chicken, and in the era of 30,000 won chicken prices, consumers have the right to choose.'

'Tongkeun Chicken' was a chicken sold by Lotte Mart starting in December 2010 for 5,000 won, which became known among consumers as a 'cost-effective chicken.'

However, as protests from chicken franchise companies intensified, Lotte Mart stopped selling Tongkeun Chicken.

Netizen A said, "I miss low-priced chicken like Tongkeun Chicken," and criticized, "It looks bad that prices are going up while competitors are being eliminated."

Netizen B expressed concern, saying, "I wonder if the era of 30,000 won chicken will really come," and added, "Drastic measures are needed."

Meanwhile, since the end of last year, major chicken franchise companies have raised chicken prices by about 1,000 to 2,000 won, citing increases in raw material costs.