[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-woo ] As rising food prices push the cost of a bowl of samgyetang close to 20,000 won, convenience stores are competing to offer nourishing ready-to-eat meals featuring eel and samgyetang ahead of the first day of summer (July 15).

E-MART Co., Ltd. announced on the 6th that it will launch eel-based bento boxes, gimbap, and samgyetang convenience meals. The flagship products are the “Eel Chirashi Sushi Bento” (9,900 won) and “Freshwater Eel Gimbap” (6,500 won). The bento box, inspired by Japanese “chirashi sushi,” features eel alongside squid, shrimp, and flying fish roe to highlight a variety of textures and flavors. The gimbap is also designed for convenient enjoyment, combining freshwater eel with rolled omelet.

The chain is also introducing ready-to-eat samgyetang. The “Whole Chicken Drumstick Samgyetang” (6,900 won) features a whole chicken drumstick and a whole Korean ginseng root, served with rice, and is aimed at single-person households. E-MART Co., Ltd. is offering up to 50% off these products when pre-ordered via the app, as well as a 20% discount on 18 summer heatwave-related items—including samgyetang ready-meals, frozen chicken, and watermelon—when paid for with a credit card.

BGF Retail(282330)CU, operated by the same company, has countered with a series of ready-to-eat meals that offer a unique reinterpretation of traditional health foods. It will sequentially launch a total of six items, including the “Nourishing Samgyetang Burger” (4,700 won), which reimagines samgyetang as a hamburger, as well as the “Nourishing Samgyetang Triangle Rice Ball” (2,000 won) and the “Nourishing Whole Eel Set Meal” (8,200 won). The series features classic nourishing ingredients—such as eel, samgyetang, and smoked duck—presented in the form of boxed meals, sandwiches, and triangle rice balls.

CU explained that by purchasing eel in bulk in advance to reduce costs, it was able to lower the prices of some products by about 20% compared to last year. The price range has also been diversified from the 2,000-won to 8,000-won bracket to expand consumer choice.

GS25, a convenience store chain operated by GS Retail, will launch the “Lunch Box of the Month: July Boknal Edition” (6,900 won)—featuring freshwater eel and smoked duck slices—and the “Smoked Duck & Eel” (14,900 won), which combines a whole eel with smoked duck, starting on the 8th. It will also release two types of triangle rice balls. On the same day, it will introduce the “Extra-Large Spicy Grilled Duck” triangle rice ball (1,900 won), filled with duck meat and chive fried rice, and on the 15th—the first day of the summer heatwave—it will unveil the “Extra-Large Abalone & Offal Fried Rice” triangle rice ball (2,000 won), made with abalone and offal sauce. The company will also hold discount promotions on chicken and samgyetang during the hottest days of summer.

These moves align with changing consumer patterns driven by high inflation. According to “Cham Price,” the Korea Consumer Agency’s comprehensive price information portal, the average price of a bowl of samgyetang in Seoul is approaching 20,000 won. Analysts note that as the cost of dining out rises, demand is increasing for consumers to purchase nourishing foods at nearby convenience stores.

In fact, CU’s sales growth rate for summer (June–August) health foods has maintained double-digit growth for three consecutive years, recording 28.5% in 2023, 25.1% in 2024, and 19.8% last year.

The industry views convenience store ready-to-eat meals as establishing themselves as a “new form of nourishing food” that goes beyond being mere substitutes. A convenience store official stated, “More customers are seeking cost-effective, nourishing ready-to-eat meals due to the high cost of dining out,” adding, “We will continue to expand our lineup of differentiated products tailored to seasonal demand.”