"Feeling Self-Conscious About Giving 100,000 Won"... Chuseok Holiday Cash Gifts to Parents Jump 38% in 5 Years

Kakao Pay Analyzes Five Years of Chuseok 'Envelope Transfer' Data
Half Give a Fixed Amount Each Year... Many Also Adjust for Inflation

Over the past five years, the amount of Chuseok holiday cash gifts given to parents has increased by approximately 38%. The amount of holiday money students receive has also continued to grow steadily.

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According to an analysis by Kakao Pay of money envelope transfer usage data during the Chuseok holiday period from 2021 to 2025, the average amount sent to parents through Chuseok money envelopes last year was 213,000 won.

This represents a 38% increase from 154,000 won in 2021. The average amount sent by age group was 190,000 won for those in their 20s, 220,000 won for those in their 30s, and 243,000 won for those in their 40s.

The amount of holiday money parents send to their children has also been on the rise. Last year, the average amount reached 114,000 won, up 16% from five years ago. Teenagers received an average of 86,000 won, people in their 20s received 119,000 won, and those in their 30s received 170,000 won.

An analysis of holiday money received by students from elementary through high school during Chuseok, regardless of the sender's age, also confirmed the trend of increasing amounts. As of last Chuseok, the average amount received was 71,000 won for middle school students, 86,000 won for high school students, and 91,000 won for university students. Among these groups, the average allowance for middle school students saw the largest increase, rising 37% compared to 2021.

According to a poll conducted by Kakao Pay's financial brand journal 'Pay Attention' with 23,322 participants about "How do you decide on the amount of Chuseok holiday money?", 48% of all respondents said, "I give the same amount every year."

This indicates that about half of consumers set a fixed budget for holiday cash gifts. Among the other responses, 30% replied, "I adjust the amount based on inflation," while 21% said, "I discuss it with siblings or my spouse."

Meanwhile, according to a Chuseok holiday plan survey conducted by Eugene Group targeting 1,008 employees of its affiliates, "holiday money" was expected to account for the largest portion of workers' Chuseok holiday expenses this year.

The survey revealed that the point at which people begin giving Chuseok money to their parents is generally when they start economic activities. Of the respondents, 65.6% said they began giving money after getting a job. This was followed by "after getting married" (15.8%), "after becoming an adult" (8.7%), and "after moving out from home" (7.1%).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.