The price of samgyetang (traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup), Korea’s signature summer health food, has continued to rise and is now approaching 20,000 won (about $13) per bowl in Seoul, making it one of the most expensive dining-out menus after grilled pork belly. According to the Korea Consumer Agency’s price information portal Cham Price on Saturday, the average price of samgyetang in Seoul stood at 18,154 won as of May this year. At some well-known samgyetang specialty restaurants, a single bowl already costs more than 20,000 won. The figure marks a 29 percent increase from 14,077 won in May 2021. The increase outpaces the rise in chicken prices. Data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.’s agricultural market information service KAMIS showed that the nationwide average retail price of broiler chicken reached 6,518 won per kilogram in May, up 20 percent from 5,433 won in May 2021. Industry observers say the steeper increase in samgyetang prices reflects not only higher chicken costs but also rising prices of ingredients such as ginseng, garlic and glutinous ric