By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Domestic prices of imported wine and blue jeans are much higher than those in most other countries, a survey by Consumers Korea, a price monitoring group, revealed Thursday.
The survey conducted in 28 countries on 52 consumer products ― which included pork, mobile phones, grapes, flour, shampoo, coffee and McDonald's hamburgers ― showed that Korea was in the top five most expensive countries for seven of the items.
``With income growth stagnant, most consumer goods are selling at inflated prices. This make people's livelihood a lot harder,'' the group said. ``The government has a long way to go before removing the price bubbles.''
Chilean Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the best selling wines here, was most expensive in Russia at 69,345 won per bottle ― Korea was second at 35,900 won. Japan was most expensive for Levi jeans where they cost 198,187 won followed by Germany at 160,574 won and Korea, 154,667 won.
An 899 gram tin of Simulac Advance powdered milk cost 32,213 won in Turkey followed by Spain and Korea as the second and third most expensive countries.
Consumers Korea's spokeswoman Yoon Myoung said the data show that Korean consumers were the biggest victims of exorbitantly high prices for imported brands.
``We have not surveyed electronic gadgets or luxury items but only products we use daily, which makes the report distinctive from KOTRA or government figures,'' she said.
``Also, the data show that the imported goods are sold at high prices, which necessitates upgrading efficiency in distribution channels. Therefore we urge the government to upgrade market transparency once more,'' she added.
Koreans are also paying too much for beef, with domestic beef prices the second highest in the world at 86,600 won per kilogram, trailing Japan's 95,130 won.
However, prices were low for cable TV and electricity fees, at 23rd and 20th most expensive, respectively.