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As autumn arrives, information regarding Yangyang Matsutake mushroom prices and related details is gaining attention. Yangyang Matsutake, registered as the first geographical indication forest product by the Korea Forest Service, sees significant price fluctuations per kilogram when auctions begin each year. Recently, the price of Grade 1 mushrooms has dropped below 1 million won, indicating active market changes.
Yangyang Matsutake mushrooms are categorized into grades from Grade 1 to off-grade. Grade 1, the highest quality with unopened caps and thick, firm stems, ranges from 900,000 to 1.5 million won per kilogram. Grade 2, with partially opened caps, sells for 800,000 to 1 million won, while Grade 3, with 30-50% opened caps, is priced between 480,000 and 630,000 won. Auction prices are what wholesalers pay; actual consumer prices may be higher due to distribution costs. Prices at the Yangyang Sokcho Forest Cooperative auction house are determined through a closed written bidding process, with mushrooms strictly classified based on size, cap opening, moisture content, and damage.
Restaurants offering Matsutake mushroom dishes are also popular in Yangyang. Yangyang Songi Mushroom Village, operating since 1996, specializes in Matsutake mushroom hotpot and shabu-shabu. This establishment has been recognized as an excellent restaurant and a participant in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics K-FOOD PLAZA. It has also been featured on TV programs such as KBS Saengsaengjeongbo, 6 Si Naegohyang, and SBS I Am SOLO. The restaurant also sells freshly harvested Matsutake mushrooms and features a quiet, spacious dining area suitable for family visits.
