Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

There is a supplement that I like that would cost 8.99 back in the U.S. and to get even with a 20% discount with a GNC card would cost me about 22,000 won is more than 2 1/2 times the price. Would the FTA reduce the price of vitamins?

[Demonicat]

Doubtful. First remember, the basic rule of capitalism- supply and demand. Next, consider that this is Korea, so rule #1 is null and void, as here Prestige=demand. Vitamins are considered odd and prestigious, thus the prices go high. Heck, consider the sad sory of protien powder, a staple to many athletes. In the western world (as well as south asia) it costs around $20 for 2 Kilos, here it costs $140 for the same amount- of a LOCAL brand.
Hit up www.mass119.com or www.bodybuilding.com iof you can't read Korean

[jajdude]

I bought a bottle of "Centrum" 100 multivitamins once for 15,000 won I believe. Not so expensive really. I think it was in Namdeamun Market, years ago.

[ulsanchris]

that bottle of centrum is now over 20,000 won. compare that to the less than 10 dollars i paid for the same bottle in canada a couple of months ago.

[SarcasmKills]

[daninkorea]

You should look at mass119.com i buy training supplemements there and they are usually the same price as websites in the US.

[JeJuJitsu]

Sure, vitamins might be cheap if you can find them at one of the markets if you're lucky for 20,000, but at the Emart, expect to pay 40,000 - 70,000 depending on the vitamins you want.

Why? As most things that don't make sense economically in Korea (subways stopping at 11:30pm?wtf?) I always assumed a Chaebol bribe by the vitamin drink manufacturers like Vita500 paying off the right people.

[Dev]

Costco Korea has cheap vitamins.
I got a 400 caplet bottle of multivitamins for 15,000.
Thank God for Costco!

As for the OP's question, vitamins are expensive here for the same reason tothbrushes are $4 each in Canada. People are willing to pay it.

[Hollywoodaction]

[DHC]

My wife owns a pharmacy and there is a simple reason why vitamins are expensive. Vitamins are not coved by KR national insurance. Many other drugs which are expensive in the US are very cheap here because they are covered by the national insurance plan.

[huck]

But vitamins aren't covered by health insurance back home, so shouldn't they be the same price then?

[Hollywoodaction]