Lunar New Year`s holiday items cheaper at traditional market

Holiday shoppers can purchase Lunar New Year`s holiday goods at up to one-third of the highest prices if they pick the right place for shopping.

The Korea Consumer Agency said Thursday its survey of 26 items popularly used on the Lunar New Year`s holiday showed that they are cheaper at traditional markets than at department stores by 35.6 percent on average and than at large discount stores by 17.3 percent. There was an average of 169 percent price difference between the highest and the lowest prices of the 26 items.

Among the items, yakgwa, or traditional cookies, showed the greatest price differences. As of February 5, 150 grams of yakgwa was priced at 4,688 won (4.23 U.S. dollars) at a department store, about three times more expensive than at traditional markets. Balloon flower roots (400 grams) cost 6,004 won (5.42 dollars) at traditional markets, compared with 6,945 won (6.27 dollars) at large discount chains and 8,535 won (7.71 dollars) at department stores. Traditional markets charged 4,485 won (4.05 dollars) for 500 grams of frozen pollack fillets, cheaper than 6,945 won (6.37 dollars) at discount stores and 8,535 won (7.71 dollars) at department stores.

An official at the consumer agency advised shoppers to closely compare prices before going shopping.