Hanwoo Beef and Seafood Half Price, Palaces Free... 'Korea Grand Festival' Opens Oct. 29

Government to Hold 18-Day Nationwide Consumer Festival Through November 15, with About 40,000 Companies Participating
Discounts on Cars, Home Appliances, and Kimchi-Making Ingredients... Local Love Gift Certificates Discounted by Up to 17%
Four Major Palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and Royal Tombs to Open Free... Up to 25% Off at Duty-Free Stores and Lodging Benefits

Hanwoo beef and seafood will be sold at discounts of up to 50%, while the four major palaces, including Gyeongbokgung, as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon Royal Tombs, will open free of charge. A large-scale nationwide discount event spanning shopping and tourism will offer discounts on cars and home appliances, along with lodging and duty-free shopping benefits.

Promotional poster for the 2nd Korea Grand Festival, hosted by the government from the 29th to November 15. Around 40,000 companies nationwide are taking part, offering a range of discounts on everything from cars and home appliances to agricultural, livestock, and seafood products, accommodations, and cultural goods. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The government announced on October 27 that it will hold the Second Korea Grand Festival for 18 days, from October 29 through November 15. Plans for the event were reported to the Cabinet that day.

The Korea Grand Festival is a nationwide consumer festival that brings together discount events previously organized separately by government ministries. Following its inaugural event last year, the festival will expand participation this year to about 40,000 companies and strengthen links between local businesses and tourism and cultural programs.

According to the government, retail sales across the industry rose 2.3 percentage points more during last year's event than when discount events were held individually. This year, the focus is on extending the boost in consumption beyond large companies and retailers to small and midsize businesses, small business owners, and traditional markets.

First, five domestic automakers - Hyundai Motor, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Korea, and KG Mobility - will offer discounts on major models, including midsize sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), starting November 1. Certified used cars from Hyundai Motor and Kia will also participate in the event for the first time this year. The models eligible for discounts and the discount rates will be announced on November 1.

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will also launch discount events on major home appliances on the same day. Mid-sized home appliance manufacturers, including Winix, will offer discounts of up to 39% on select products such as air purifiers and dehumidifiers.

Large retailers and supermarket chains, including E-Mart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus, will offer discounts of up to 50% on meat, seafood, processed foods, and household goods, or sell them through buy-one-get-one-free promotions. Five major department store companies will also hold discount events of up to 50%, focusing on winter clothing, along with special promotions by brand.

Discounts on food will also expand ahead of the kimchi-making season. From October 29 through December 2, more than 300 retailers nationwide will offer discounts of up to 40% on key ingredients for making kimchi, including napa cabbage, radishes, red peppers, and garlic.

Hanwoo beef will be discounted by up to 50% from October 28 through November 8, while key seafood products, including seaweed, salted shrimp, and solar salt, will be discounted by up to 50% from October 28 through November 29. Mobile Nonghal Vouchers will also be sold at a 20% discount from November 2 to 15.

Discount rates for Local Love Gift Certificates will also increase. During the event, the government will expand national funding to add 5 percentage points to existing discount rates. The rates will rise from 8% to 13% in the Seoul metropolitan area, from 10% to 15% outside the metropolitan area, and to up to 17% in areas with declining populations. The actual dates of application will vary by local government.

From November 2 to 6, the discount rate for Digital Onnuri Gift Certificates will increase from the current 7% to 10%. The government will also run the “Shared Prosperity Consumption Lottery,” awarding a total of KRW 1.7 billion to 5,600 Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate users. Participants will receive one entry for every KRW 30,000 in cumulative purchases, with twice as many entries given for purchases made outside the metropolitan area. The first-place prize is KRW 30 million.

Another feature of this year's event is its combination of tourism and cultural programs with efforts to boost consumption. During the event, the four major palaces - Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung - as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon Royal Tombs will open free of charge. Regular closing days and the Huwon Garden at Changdeokgung are excluded from the free admission offer.

At the K-Heritage Stores at Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, and Changdeokgung, among other locations, select cultural products will be offered at a 10% discount. On November 14, the National Theater of Korea will host a free performance by the National Orchestra of Korea.

Discount benefits will also be available to foreign tourists. From October 30 through November 15, the government will run a welcome week for foreign tourists at major airports and seaports and provide multilingual tourist information services. Portable Wi-Fi and eSIM purchases will be discounted by up to 25%, and fares for the Airport Railroad Express train will be reduced by KRW 2,000.

Twenty-five duty-free stores nationwide, including Lotte, Shilla, Shinsegae, and Hyundai, will offer discounts of up to 25% on select products such as alcoholic beverages and cosmetics, and provide coupons, prepaid cards, and gifts based on purchase amounts. The government also plans to link shopping by foreign tourists with local tourism by offering discounts of up to 35% on tours and activity packages.

Accommodation discounts for trips outside the metropolitan area will continue. In conjunction with the event, the government will distribute 84,000 accommodation discount coupons for stays outside the metropolitan area as part of the second-half Accommodation Discount Festa, which runs from September 22 through November 8.

Events to boost spending in local neighborhood commercial districts will also take place. Discounts, refunds, and commercial district tours will be offered in 159 local commercial districts and markets nationwide, including Dongmyeong Commercial District in Gwangju and Jinju Jungang Market.

Programs will also connect representative local businesses such as Seongsimdang, Samjin Eomuk, and Taegeukdang with nearby commercial districts. The programs will offer discount coupons, prizes, and cultural performances to encourage consumers who visit well-known businesses to also visit nearby traditional markets and shops.

The joint opening event will be held on October 31 in the area around the former Andong Station in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The program will include a K-pop concert promoting shared prosperity, live commerce, and cultural performances. Discount events will also be held in five nearby commercial districts, including Andong Old Market and Jungang Culture Street.

A temporary tourist train linking Andong's attractions, traditional markets, and the opening ceremony venue will operate. A tour pass connecting century-old businesses, workshops, bookstores, and cafes in North Gyeongsang Province will also be piloted.

The government plans to use the event to extend the boost in consumption across the regional economy and develop it into an international consumer festival that foreign tourists can also take part in.

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