Will another blue crab "open run" unfold this fall? A fishing ban on blue crab, imposed on June 21 to protect the spawning season, lifted at midnight, prompting large discount chains and e-commerce platforms to simultaneously launch sales of freshly caught fall blue crab. E-mart priced it at 689 won per 100 grams, Coupang at 688 won and Kurly at 680 won. The price tags set by major retailers clustered in the high-600-won range, as if by agreement.
Fall blue crab sales rank among the events that retailers pour the most effort into all year, because the timing and product align abundant supply, low prices and matching customer demand. Blue crab typically comes into season twice a year, in spring and fall, but the two seasons differ in character. Spring blue crab, prized as a delicacy for its abundant roe, is caught in smaller quantities because the crabs are more active ahead of spawning. As a result, the price approaches 50,000 won per kilogram. Fall blue crab, by contrast, comes to 6,890 won per kilogram at 689 won per 100 grams — less than a quarter of the spring price. It can be used without hesitation for soy-marinated crab, steamed dishes or stews, giving it a value edge that overwhelms spring blue crab. That is the backdrop for the annual "blue crab open run," in which shoppers line up in front of store shelves on the day the fishing ban is lifted.
E-mart has secured the largest supply. The chain is known to handle about 1,000 tons of fresh fall blue crab each year. This year, it will sell domestic fall blue crab at 689 won per 100 grams for three days starting on the 21st, and at 772 won from the 24th to the 26th with Shinsegae Point accumulation. That is more than 60% below the regular price of 1,980 won and cheaper than last year's promotional price of 741 won. To make this possible, E-mart signed exclusive contracts with about 50 boats at major west coast fishing grounds, including Taean in South Chungcheong Province, and set up a dedicated processing site near the port. The aim is to display crab caught at dawn in stores the same day. The supply prepared for the first day of the event is around 20 tons, up more than 70% from a year earlier. Hwang Ji-soo, E-mart's crustacean buyer, said, "To showcase fresh blue crab to more customers on the first day the fishing ban is lifted, we plan to prepare around 20 tons for the opening day, more than 70% above last year."
Lotte Mart and Lotte Super emphasized both price and freshness. Their "deep-sleep blue crab" is immersed in chilled seawater below 5 degrees Celsius immediately after catch to calm the crabs, then covered with sawdust to keep them in a near-dormant state and shipped directly to stores nationwide. The retailer operates a dedicated fleet of 25 boats on the west coast and increased its specialized packing sites, which handle sorting and packaging, from eight to nine. Lotte Mart begins sales on the 21st and Lotte Super on the 22nd, with a 30% discount for event card payments through the 26th. Oh Mun-gyu, a merchandiser on the seafood team at Lotte Mart and Lotte Super, said, "Deep-sleep blue crab is a product focused on maintaining freshness from the fishing ground to the customer's table," adding, "We hope customers will experience the true taste of fresh, in-season blue crab this fall without any burden."
E-commerce players have joined the fray. Coupang increased its purchase volume by 50% this year to 150 tons from about 100 tons last year, and expanded its sourcing regions from five to seven by adding Yeonpyeong and Ongjin in Incheon, covering the entire west coast. It has set up mini logistics centers at each fishing ground to handle inspection and sorting, and delivers as early as before 7 a.m. the next day. Kurly is offering "cold-rinse fresh blue crab" — caught with nets rather than traps at Sinjin Island and packed on ice at the fishing ground — at 13,600 won for 2 kilograms (680 won per 100 grams) when the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries seafood fair coupon is applied.
The fall blue crab season typically runs about three months, from August 21 through October. Unlike farmed products that are available year-round, missing this window means waiting a full year, so analysts say the retailer that secures ample supply from fishing grounds will win the blue crab battle.
Industry observers believe that, given the distribution structure, offline retailers are more likely to secure abundant supply and meet customer demand. The number of fishermen who can supply product from the fishing grounds is limited, so retailers cannot obtain volumes by visiting only during blue crab season, according to the industry. Only by building relationships in which they consistently buy catches from other seasons — such as wild flatfish — can retailers secure allocations during the peak period.
An industry official said, "Many fish species have fishing bans, but the lifting of the blue crab ban draws great customer interest," adding, "We will expand cooperation with top fishing grounds to take the lead in easing the burden of grocery prices for customers in an era of high inflation."
