Consumer Festival 'Korea Grand Festival' Opens in Andong... 18 Days of Discounts and Consumer Benefits Offered

Festival Opens in Andong After Nationwide Local Government Competition
Food Events and Hands-On Programs Held in Conjunction with Local Festivals

The 2nd Korea Grand Festival, aimed at boosting domestic demand and encouraging local spending, will run nationwide for 18 days through November 15.

Lee Soyoung, Minister of SMEs and Startups, and Prime Minister Han Seongsuk look around the booths at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Korea Grand Festival, held on October 31 in the area around the former Andong Station in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on November 1 that it held the opening ceremony of the Korea Grand Festival on the afternoon of October 31, 2026, near the former Andong Station in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. About 2,000 people attended, including Prime Minister Han Seongsuk, Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Soyoung, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oeul, National Assembly member Kim Hyung-dong, and Yang Geumhee, vice governor for economic affairs of North Gyeongsang Province.

The Korea Grand Festival is a nationwide consumer festival that brings together events organized by different government ministries. This year, from October 29 to November 15, 10 ministries and about 40,000 companies across the country are offering various discounts and consumer benefits over 18 days.

For the first time, the opening ceremony was held in Andong, which was selected through a nationwide competition among local governments. The festival links local cultural and tourism resources with discounts at commercial districts, aiming to turn festival visitors' spending into sales for local businesses and small business owners.

Discounts and events are being held in five commercial districts near the former Andong Station: Food Street, Jungang Culture Street, Namseo Shopping District, Andong Old Market, and Andong Jungang New Market-Andong Old Market. Visitors who present a receipt for a Win-Win Concert ticket purchase can receive a refund in Andong Love Gift Certificates worth 20,000 won, which they can spend at nearby businesses.

Lee Soyoung, Minister of SMEs and Startups, poses for a commemorative photo with attendees at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Korea Grand Festival, held at the former Andong Station site in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, on the 31st of last month. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Various events to encourage spending were held, including a Jjimdak Festival and night markets, food events, hands-on programs, and prize giveaways at Jungang New Market and Yongsang Market. A Paldo Tourism Train connecting major tourist attractions in Andong was also operated to encourage tourists to visit the area and spend at local businesses.

Before the opening ceremony, key figures, including Prime Minister Han Seongsuk, visited nearby shops, sampled Andong's signature dish, jjimdak, and bought goods to show their support for small business owners. Their visits to local businesses conveyed the message that spending locally supports small businesses and the regional economy.

Following the opening ceremony, the Win-Win Concert featured a range of performances by Song Ga-in and Lee Chan-won, as well as Bitpella House, Hitzies, and Candy Shop.

Live commerce broadcasts by the Ministry of Science and ICT's Korea Post Shopping introduced and sold local products. Other events included a Hanwoo beef tasting hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, along with various audience-participation events, performances, and hands-on programs.

During the Korea Grand Festival, consumers will benefit from discounts at online and offline retailers nationwide, additional discounts on local gift certificates, an increased discount rate on digital Onnuri gift certificates from November 2 to 6, and the Win-Win Consumption Lottery.

In her opening remarks, Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Soyoung said, "I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the people of Andong who suffered damage from last year's wildfires. I hope the Korea Grand Festival, which begins here in Andong today, will help revitalize the local economy and support its vigorous growth."

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to develop the Korea Grand Festival into a world-class event that foreign tourists can enjoy and people can experience overseas. To spread the momentum for increased consumer spending nationwide, the ministry will work with relevant government agencies to ensure that cabinet members continue making active visits to local communities through the end of the festival. More information about the festival and its benefits is available on the official website and Instagram.

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