As of the October 2, 2026 KAMIS survey: oyster, baby oyster, king oyster and enoki mushroom wholesale prices in Korea, the Chuseok spike, comparisons with a year ago and the 10-year average, and why mushroom prices fall every October.
If oyster mushrooms felt expensive during Chuseok shopping, they were. A 2 kg box at Seoul’s wholesale markets passed KRW 50,000 just before the holiday, then fell to KRW 20,000 within ten days. King oyster and enoki mushrooms barely moved over the same period.
Bottom line: as of the October 2, 2026 KAMIS survey, top-grade oyster mushrooms sold for KRW 20,200 per 2 kg in Seoul. That is 60% below KRW 50,500 on September 21–22, yet still 49% above the 2016–2025 Seoul October average of KRW 13,541. King oyster mushrooms (2 kg) were KRW 10,100 and enoki (5 kg) KRW 12,200, both around normal.
Try it yourself: the produce market sales calculator compares what you keep in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon at today’s prices.
1. Where prices stand.
| Item (Seoul, top grade) | October 2 | Pre-Chuseok high | A year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster, 2 kg | 20,200 | 50,500 (September 21) | 37,100 |
| Baby oyster, 2 kg | 8,500 | 16,500 (September 23) | 14,300 |
| King oyster, 2 kg | 10,100 | 11,200 (September 15) | 12,100 |
| Enoki, 5 kg | 12,200 | 14,000 (September 23) | 13,800 |
2. Only oyster mushrooms swung with the holiday.
Oyster mushrooms sat in the high KRW 20,000s through September, jumped to KRW 50,500 in the week before Chuseok (September 24–26), and fell back to KRW 20,200 by October 1. The September average of KRW 29,490 is the highest monthly figure for Seoul oyster mushrooms since 2016. Oyster mushrooms go into holiday dishes such as jeon and japchae, so demand piles up right before the holiday and drains away after it.
Arrivals point the same way. Seoul oyster mushroom arrivals rose 20% the week before Chuseok while the price nearly doubled, and fell about 25% after the holiday while the price more than halved. Holiday demand, not supply, moved the price.
3. October is always cheaper.
From 2016 to 2025, Seoul’s October average for oyster mushrooms was lower than September’s in every year, and the same held for king oyster mushrooms. Enoki followed the pattern in 8 of the 10 years.
King oyster mushrooms averaged KRW 10,863 in September 2026, close to 10% above their 10-year September average of KRW 9,896. Enoki averaged KRW 12,670, 14% below its KRW 14,683 average. Both are within their normal range, with small gaps between cities.
4. Checklist.
- Oyster mushrooms spike before holidays and drop after them: KRW 50,500 before Chuseok, KRW 20,200 on October 2.
- October mushroom prices have been lower than September’s every year.
- King oyster and enoki are less holiday-driven; judge them against normal prices.
- Holiday demand moved prices more than arrivals did.
5. Conclusion.
Seoul oyster mushrooms sold for KRW 20,200 per 2 kg on October 2, 2026, down 60% from the pre-Chuseok peak but still 49% above the 10-year October average. Growers should plan October as a falling month; shoppers can buy oyster mushrooms for well under half their pre-holiday price.
Sources
- aT KAMIS, period wholesale (intermediary) prices: oyster, baby oyster and king oyster mushrooms top grade 2 kg, enoki top grade 5 kg, five cities, September 2025–October 2, 2026 (Public Data Portal API).
- aT KAMIS monthly prices: Seoul monthly averages, 2016–2026.
- Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation shipment data: oyster mushroom arrivals at Seoul Garak and Gangseo markets, September 22–October 1, 2026.
- Actual prices vary by variety, size, freshness, market and terms of sale.