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Boknal 2026: an 18,154-won bowl of samgyetang sends Koreans to eel, burgers and fried chicken

South Korea's hottest days of the year, the three boknal, traditionally call for samgyetang, a whole young chicken stuffed with sticky rice and ginseng. As chobok, the first of them, arrived on 15 July, Korean outlets looked at what the dish now costs.

The Korea Times reported that a homemade bowl costs about 8,815 won per serving at a traditional market, according to Korean Price Information, with ingredient costs down 2.8% from last year as sticky rice fell 23.3%. Eating out is another matter: the average restaurant bowl in Seoul reached 18,154 won in May, up 2.8% in a year, based on Korea Consumer Agency data.

The Asia Business Daily put that same figure in a five-year frame, up about 29% from 14,077 won in 2021, and noted that some well-known restaurants now charge more than 20,000 won. Korea JoongAng Daily followed the shoppers who are looking elsewhere: retailers are pushing eel and abalone, KFC launched a "Bok Bucket", and the convenience store CU released a 4,700-won samgyetang burger.

“On boknal, chicken sells like it's during a World Cup match between Korea and Japan.” — Lee Hyun-yong, fried chicken restaurant owner, via Korea JoongAng Daily

How each outlet framed it

• The Korea Times — a money tip: cook it at home or try meal kits at 5,000 to 9,000 won a serving.
• The Asia Business Daily — the long view: a 29% rise in five years and diners hesitating to eat out.
• Korea JoongAng Daily — the alternatives: fried chicken, eel lunch boxes and convenience-store spin-offs.

Where the numbers differ: All three use the 18,154-won Seoul average, but they measure change differently: 2.8% over one year in The Korea Times and JoongAng Daily, about 29% over five years in The Asia Business Daily.