Condoms fly off shelves

By Park Si-soo

Condoms are flying off the shelves at drugstores as motel operators and other “entertainment businesses” in red-light districts are hoarding them amid fears of price hikes following recent sharp gains in rubber prices.

A pharmacist who runs a drugstore in Ingye-dong, a district packed with glitzy signs for bars, night clubs and motels in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, said condom are his best-selling item these days.

“Only two or three packs that contain 10 condoms each were sold a week on average just a few months ago. But now, nearly 30 packs are sold a day,” the pharmacist said.

A convenience store manager in the area also said a motel manager recently purchased all condom boxes at his store. “Those engaged in the sex business have started hoarding,” he said.

The buying spree is expected to continue for a while as Southeast Asian countries, the major rubber producers, were severely battered by storms this summer, resulting in steep gains in natural rubber prices worldwide.

A domestic condom maker UNIDUS said a price increase is inevitable due to a supply shortage.

“We imported natural rubber, a key element in making condoms, at 1,970 won per kilogram early this year. But it surged nearly 80 percent in September to 2,690 won,” a UNIDUS spokesman said. “The climb is expected to continue. Considering this, we have no choice but to raise our prices.”

The cost of rubber-based goods is set to rise following a 65 percent jump in the price of natural rubber in the past year.

Heavy rains in main rubber-producing regions disrupted rubber tapping.

Adam Glickman of Condomania, one of the largest specialty condom retailers in the U.S., said the price of condoms jumped 10-20 percent in the past year and manufacturers are warning of further increases.

콘돔사제기 열풍!

최근 천연고무 가격의 가격이 급등하면서 콘돔 사제기 열풍이 유흥가를 중심으로 극성을 부리고 있다.

수원시 팔달구 인계동의 한 약국 주인은 “1주일에 10개들이 2~3통 팔리던 콘돔이 이날 하루만 30통이 팔려 추가 주문을 했을 정도”라고 말했다.

이러한 사제기 열풍의 원인은 콘돔의 주 재료인 천연고무의 가격이 내년부터 크게 오를 것이라는 예상 때문이다. 지난 여름 동남아 지역에 집중되어 있는 천연고무 생산지역이 폭우로 인해 큰 피해를 입었다.

이로 인해 콘돔뿐 아니라 고무를 주 재료로 하는 타이어 등의 제품들에 대한 수요도 급증하고 있다.