Koreans' chicken intake continues to rise, hits two per month: data


Senior citizens enjoy 'samgyetang,' a soup of chicken and ginseng with sticky rice, for free at a cafeteria of the regional Red Cross in Incheon, Monday.- Photo: Yonhap

SEOUL: South Koreans ate an average of more than two chickens per month last year, doubling their per capita chicken consumption over the past two decades, according to data released Sunday (July 21).

Statistics from the Korea Rural Economic Institute show that per capita chicken consumption reached 26 birds last year, with domestic production accounting for 20 birds per person and imports making up the remaining six.

By the weight of chicken meat consumed, excluding bone weight, the per capita figure increased from 1.4kg in 1970 to 7.8kg in 2003.

It then doubled to 15.7kg last year.

Among the total 790,000 tons of chicken meat consumed last year, domestic production accounted for more than 70 percent, or 607,000 tons.

Last year's figure fell between pork consumption at 30.1kg and beef at 14.8kg.

Chicken consumption in South Korea typically peaks during summer, as Koreans traditionally turn to stamina-building dishes like samgyetang (Korean chicken soup) to beat the heat.

Last July, more than 30 percent of the roughly 100 million chickens consumed were used to prepare this dish.

Despite the popularity of samgyetang and the growing Korean fried chicken market, however, South Korea is not the world’s top poultry eater.

According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, South Korea’s per capita poultry consumption is projected to reach 17.6kg this year -- 3kg above the global average.

However, it is far behind the 49.3kg in the United States and 23.1kg in the European Union.

Nonetheless, South Korea’s poultry consumption surpasses its neighboring countries, Japan and China, where per capita figures are 13.4kg and 14.1kg, respectively. - The Korea Herald/ANN

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
South Korea , Koreans , chicken , intake , rise ,

Next In Aseanplus News

Singapore's School of the Arts students fall ill from ready-to-eat meals distributed during Total Defence exercise
Memento jewellery maker in Singapore under probe after failing to deliver orders worth about S$19,000
Thai DPM Phumtham said Cambodia PM Hun Manet regretted the incident at Ta Muen Thom temple
Over 19,000 smoking violations recorded under new Public Health Act
Former manager at DBS Bank Singapore admits cheating four clients of S$348k in total
Myanmar scam centre survivors recall torture and coercion
Study reveals nearly half of chronic kidney patients in Malaysia face job loss
North Korea reopens to tourists, including Singapore visitors
Malaysia working on holding special Asean-US summit
Putin, Xi to visit each other for events marking WWII end

Others Also Read