Gift Purchases Increase for Suneung Students Dimmed by COVID-19... 'Contactless' Trend Prevails

11st Mobile Gift Card Sales Soar 524% Year-on-Year
Sales of University Admission Good Luck Foods Like Yeot and Tteok Also Jump Sharply

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Gifts to encourage and comfort students preparing for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) on the 3rd of next month are gaining popularity across various online malls. Especially this year, due to the widespread outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the number of students feeling anxious and tense has increased, leading to a rise in the sales volume of gifts intended to encourage them. With the expansion of non-face-to-face trends, mobile gift certificates are selling like hotcakes.

According to online mall 11st on the 27th, mobile gift certificate sales from the 12th to the 25th surged by 524% compared to the previous year. E-coupons usable at convenience stores also saw a 10% increase in sales. Sales of yeot, one of the representative snacks wishing for college acceptance, increased by 78% compared to the previous year.

A representative from 11st explained, "Due to the recent spread of COVID-19, gift-giving has also shifted to non-face-to-face methods, so e-coupons are the trend for CSAT gifts as well."

At Gmarket, e-coupon sales from the 19th to the 25th increased by 20% compared to the same period last year. In the e-coupon category, sales of snacks popular among young people such as chicken and pizza coupons increased by 15%. Additionally, sales of representative CSAT gift foods such as glutinous rice cakes and ddukbokki rose by 166%, chocolate by 110%, gangjeong and yeot by 87%, and nuts by 33%.

At SSG.com, comparing sales of CSAT-related gift foods from the 12th to the 25th with the period from October 24 to November 6 last year, rice cake sales increased by 99%, and nut sales by 49%. Sales of red ginseng candy and jelly also rose by 13% compared to last year.

At Market Kurly, a fresh food specialty mall, sales of CSAT support-related foods from the 19th to the 25th increased by 101% compared to November 7 to 13 last year. Rice cake sales rose by 139%, nuts by 88%, and chocolate by 43%.

Meanwhile, the food and dining industry is actively marketing CSAT season products reflecting the non-face-to-face gift trend. bhc Chicken is holding a support event for students through the BSR official blog and Facebook until the 1st of next month. By leaving a message of courage and encouragement for students taking the 2021 CSAT on the event posts on the BSR official blog and Facebook, participants are automatically entered into a draw. Winners will receive mobile chicken gift certificates.

Dairy specialist company Purmil is running a "Cheer Up, Examinees!" event on its official Facebook page until the 2nd of next month. By writing a supportive comment for students on the event post on Purmil's official Facebook, 10 winners will be selected by lottery to receive convenience store gift certificates worth 5,000 won each.

CJ Foodville Tous Les Jours recently offered up to 20% discounts on CSAT season products through KakaoTalk Gift. 11st and Wemakeprice also provided CSAT products and gift certificates at about 21% discounted prices. SPC Paris Baguette prepared a "hologram support video" to help ease students' tension. By assembling the hologram kit included with 12 CSAT products, placing it on a smartphone, and scanning the QR code printed on the box's exterior, customers can watch a special hologram support video unique to Paris Baguette.

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