South Korea bans protest onions at polling stations after Yoon’s ‘reasonable price’ gaffe

The restriction comes amid a growing wave of political discontent, as skyrocketing vegetable prices and other economic challenges plague the nation.

A record-breaking turnout – in excess of 31 per cent – during advance voting on Friday and Saturday is a reflection of the electorate’s heightened engagement in the polls, seen as a midterm referendum on Yoon’s leadership.

The president himself voted alone in the southern city of Busan on Friday, a departure from a tradition in which presidential couples typically cast their ballots together in front of television cameras.

However, in a notable shift, economic woes – surging vegetable prices, in particular – have taken centre stage, as the government’s perceived failure to address the issue has fuelled resentment among voters.

The onion ban at voting stations stemmed from a television appearance Yoon made on March 18 that showed him holding up a bundle of spring onions costing 875 won (65 US cents) – a discounted, temporary price offered thanks to a government subsidy – and insisting: “I’ve been to lots of markets, and I would say 875 won is a reasonable price.”

For weeks, the average retail price of spring onions – a common ingredient in Korean cuisine – has hovered around the 3,000-4,000 won (US$2.20-US$3) level, reflecting some of the highest prices in years.

Yoon’s throwaway comment drew voters’ ire and has created a mini-crisis for his ruling party, as candidates from the main liberal opposition began bringing spring onions to election rallies and accusing the president of being out of touch with reality.

And it’s not just spring onions. Produce prices in March were 20 per cent higher year on year, with apples up by nearly 90 per cent – marking the largest one-year jump since