As Chuseok approaches, discount events are ramping up to ease the burden on shoppers. Large and small supermarkets have already begun discounting agricultural products, and from mid-September, sales of agricultural gift certificates and refunds for traditional market gift certificates will follow.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on September 8, the government is investing a record 59 billion won this year to support discounts on agricultural products until September 23.
Supermarkets are offering discounts of up to 40% on all domestic agricultural products, including essential items. This promotion started on September 3, and during this period, there is no limit on the amount of discount per person.
Supermarkets are also running their own discount promotions. Producer organizations like Hanaro Mart and Nonghyup Mall are offering discounts of up to 50%, while retailers such as E-Mart and Lotte Mart are providing discounts of up to 70%. Additionally, there will be self-funding discounts of 30-50% on Korean beef and 20% on Korean pork. The actual discount items and rates may vary by retailer.
If you plan to shop at traditional markets, your options will expand starting mid-September.
First, the 'Korea Agricultural Gift Certificate' supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be sold at a 20% discount. For example, purchasing 100,000 won worth will only cost 80,000 won.
The sale of agricultural gift certificates for the general public will begin regionally from September 14 to 16.
On September 14 at 2 PM, sales will start in Jeonbuk and Jeju, and at 4 PM in Daejeon, Chungnam, and Chungbuk. On September 15 at 2 PM, sales will begin in Busan, Ulsan, and Jeonnam Gwangju, and at 4 PM in Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk. On September 16 at 2 PM, sales will start in Gangwon, Sejong, and Daegu, and at 4 PM in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi.
The discount rate is 20%, and the purchase limit is 100,000 won per person across all regional gift certificates. The validity period is until November 30. Regional gift certificates can only be used at participating stores within the respective areas.
Priority sales for seniors have already begun. From September 7 to 13, only members born in 1961 or earlier can purchase, with sales staggered by region from September 7 to 9.
Traditional markets will also have a refund event for the Onnuri gift certificate. From September 16 to 20, shoppers who buy agricultural products at participating markets can receive 30% of their purchase amount back in Onnuri gift certificates. The number of participating markets has increased from 200 last year to 300 this year.
Therefore, it may be advantageous to adjust your shopping timing based on where you plan to shop. If you use large or small supermarkets, you can take advantage of the ongoing discounts on agricultural products. Conversely, if you plan to shop at traditional markets, it may be worth checking the benefits available after mid-September when the general sale of agricultural gift certificates and the Onnuri gift certificate refund event overlap.
The government is also expanding the supply of essential Chuseok items. A total of 163,000 tons of 13 essential items, including apples, pears, cabbage, radishes, onions, garlic, zucchini, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, chestnuts, and jujubes, will be supplied, which is 1.6 times more than usual. The supply of agricultural products will increase by 2.6 times, livestock products by 1.3 times, and forest products by up to 9 times.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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