Recent statistics show that low income households were particularly hit hard by a jump in food prices in the second quarter. 

According to the Korean Statistical Information Service on Monday, the lowest fifth of the income bracket spent 244-thousand won a month on average on groceries and non-liquor beverages in the second quarter, up 12 percent on year. 

That's far higher than the seven percent increase in overall spending by the lowest income group. 

The comparable figure for the highest fifth of the income bracket was 540-thousand won, up just one-point-two percent. 

Although the lowest 20 percent of the income bracket spent less on food than all other quintiles, the proportion of their spending on food was the highest at 21-point-two percent. 

This means they are more vulnerable to increases in food prices. 

Prices of groceries and non-liquor beverages climbed seven-point-three percent in the second quarter from a year ago. It was almost three times the increase in consumer prices, which rose two-point-five percent.