"Please Give More Lettuce and Kkaennip"... Meat Restaurant and Ssambap Restaurant Owners Feel Anxious

Perilla Leaf Prices Reach Highest Monthly Level Since 2014
Lettuce, Cucumber, Napa Cabbage All Rise... Impact of Heatwave

A scene of a restaurant in Seoul providing lettuce and perilla leaves [File photo] [Image source=Yonhap News]

The prices of perilla leaves, lettuce, and cucumbers have surged following napa cabbage, increasing the burden on ordinary citizens. In particular, the price of perilla leaves has reached an all-time high, with some reports indicating that a single leaf is sometimes sold for around 100 won. The difficulties faced by self-employed business owners are as significant as the burden on the public. For example, barbecue restaurants or ssambap (wrap rice) restaurants that serve lettuce and perilla leaves find it increasingly difficult to readily accommodate customers' requests for refills.

According to an analysis of price information from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (KAMIS) reported by Yonhap News on the 1st, the average retail price of perilla leaves (standard grade) per 100g was 3,514 won in late last month, about 1,000 won higher than two months prior. Compared to the same period last year, it rose by approximately 400 won (13%). In supermarkets, the average price of perilla leaves in late last month exceeded 4,000 won. Traditional markets offer somewhat cheaper prices.

The average monthly price of perilla leaves in September was 3,436 won, the highest monthly price since 2014 when monthly prices became available on KAMIS. This is 67% more expensive than the price in September 2019, five years ago, which was 2,068 won.

Along with perilla leaves, lettuce, a representative leafy vegetable for wraps, also saw price increases. The price of lettuce (green leaf lettuce) in late last month was 2,526 won per 100g, 46% higher than 1,728 won a year ago. Lettuce prices have remained around 2,500 won since late July.

Merchants are organizing vegetables at the agricultural and marine products market in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The price of cucumbers (thorny variety) was 16,800 won for 10 pieces the previous day, up 15.36% from 14,563 won last year and 56.58% from the average year price of 10,729 won. Cheongyang chili peppers (green chili peppers) rose 15% over the past year to 1,823 won per 100g.

The price of napa cabbage has been rising steadily since June, when summer began. The average price of one head of napa cabbage in late last month was 9,581 won, a 55% increase from last year. In some traditional markets and supermarkets, prices have even exceeded 20,000 won per head.

The price of small napa cabbage heads was 5,943 won each, up 31% from a year ago.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs attributed the price increases of perilla leaves, lettuce, and cucumbers to "damage to facilities in some major production areas caused by heatwaves and heavy rains," adding, "As temperatures drop, prices are expected to gradually stabilize."

The government plans to establish a "Climate Change Response Agricultural Product Supply and Demand Management Plan" within the year. Additionally, with the kimchi-making season approaching, the government will prioritize stabilizing napa cabbage prices by importing Chinese napa cabbage.

Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "It is time to come up with innovative mid- to long-term measures," and added, "We plan to devise related measures concerning climate change within this year."