In Seoul's Jongno 5-ga, there is a street lined with pharmacies known as "Pharmacy Street." On the afternoon of the 4th, a reporter from ChosunBiz entered one pharmacy and asked about the price of a box of liver health supplements, to which the pharmacist responded, "How much did you find out it costs?"
When the reporter said, "33,000 won," the pharmacist went inside to speak with another pharmacist in the dispensing room. The pharmacist came out, took a deep breath, and said, "I have to make a living too, but if the customer asks for a cheaper price, I should accommodate that. I'll give it to you for 33,000 won."
The situation was similar in another pharmacy. On the same afternoon, when a man in his 30s asked how much they sold the same product for, the pharmacist responded, "40,000 won." When the man said, "At other pharmacies, it's selling for 35,000 won," the pharmacist hesitated for a moment and then said, "Then I'll give it to you for 35,000 won."
The man remarked, "I haggled down the price by 5,000 won with a single word," adding, "It seems like you need 'the skill of bargaining' to buy medicine on Pharmacy Street in Jongno 5-ga." However, a woman in her 30s who was with him expressed, "I'm curious about what the actual price is that allows for a 5,000 won discount with just one word. It makes me wonder if they’re marking up the price from the start."
◇ Over-the-counter medicines and health supplements see a lot of price haggling between customers and pharmacists
Pharmacies have been densely concentrated in Jongno 5-ga for a long time, leading to fierce competition among them. As a result, they have gained a reputation for being cheaper than in other areas.
Larger pharmacies implement fixed pricing, but smaller ones allow for haggling. Over-the-counter medicines and health supplements, such as liver health supplements that are not covered by health insurance, are often subject to price negotiation. It is stated in the Pharmacists Act that pharmacists can determine the consumer price directly, which means price negotiations are not illegal.
A pharmacy official in Jongno 5-ga stated, "If we only sell above the cost price, we wouldn't make a profit" and added, "That’s why haggling freely occurs between pharmacists and customers." One pharmacist noted, "Especially elderly customers tend to visit various pharmacies, asking about prices and negotiating a lot when buying supplements."
When the reporter attempted to haggle at a pharmacy, there was a counteroffer stating, "It’s difficult to give a discount if you only buy one box, but I'll offer a discount if you buy five boxes."
◇ "You can save money by shopping around" VS "Some people are buying the same thing for cheaper"
Consumers have mixed reactions to price haggling for medicines. Ahn Mo (26), met on Pharmacy Street in Jongno 5-ga, said, "I was troubled by the high prices of artificial tears and supplements, but I'm satisfied because I can save money by shopping around." In contrast, Gu Mo (32), who came to buy medicine, raised a concern, saying, "If someone buys a product at the same listed price for cheaper, isn’t it just those who pay the listed price who suffer loss?"
Experts point out that practices should be established so that transactions happen at reasonable prices that match the value of the products. Lee Eun-hee, a professor at Inha University, commented, "Consumers tend to prefer cheaper options when they know the final sale price (listed)" and emphasized, "Rather than price haggling, it is preferable to state a rational price from the outset."