South Korean consumers are increasingly choosing imported meat as domestic beef and pork prices rise amid persistent inflation. E-Mart said imported pork sales at its E-Mart and Traders stores rose 32.2% in January-August from a year earlier, compared with 12.6% growth for domestic pork. Imported beef sales increased 12.0%, outpacing the 7.3% rise for domestic beef. Hanwoo prices reached 24,245 won per 500 grams in July, up 14.7% year-on-year and 25.7% from two years earlier, while pork prices rose 5.9% to 14,375 won. Cheaper frozen meat, the elimination of the 2.6% U.S. beef tariff on Jan. 1 and increased European supplies have supported imports, while shoppers and food-service buyers increasingly weigh price alongside quality.