2021 Starts with Untact... New Year's Countdown Also at Home

New Year's Countdown Event Live Broadcast
Year-End Parties Held Online via YouTube
Compensation Psychology Boosts Demand for Hanwoo and Lobster
Retailers Offer Discounts on Premium Foods
VIPS Delivery 25% Off... Hanwoo and Eel Also Included

The New Year's countdown event will be broadcast live on the official Instagram starting at 11:40 PM on the 31st from the media facade on the exterior wall of Lotte World Tower.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] In the quiet year-end, the New Year's countdown event celebrating the Year of the Ox has also shifted to a contactless (untact) format. Although the year-end and New Year atmosphere of gathering together to celebrate hope and joy for the new year has disappeared, efforts to share the message of 'Let's overcome together' have transitioned to a non-face-to-face method.

Untact 'Happy 2021'

The 'Media Cube' installed in the Lotte World Tower Plaza is displaying the media art 'Universe' by the late artist Kim Whanki.

According to the related industry on the 31st, the media facade on the outer wall of Lotte World Tower will broadcast the New Year's countdown event live on the official Instagram from 11:40 PM that night (31st). Messages such as 'Adieu' and 'Happy 2021' will be repeatedly displayed, followed by a '60-second countdown' event waiting for the new year starting at 11:59 PM. In the plaza, a media cube themed 'Universe' based on the works of the late artist Kim Whanki will be installed. Last year, a fireworks festival attracted a large crowd, but this year, no offline gathering events will be held in accordance with government quarantine guidelines.

There are also efforts to share hearts through social network services (SNS). Lotte Department Store will conduct a social artwork project supporting the new year under the theme 'Hope Blue' starting January 2nd next year. Selected works will be exhibited at the Art Hall of Lotte Department Store Jamsil Branch. 11st will hold a year-end and New Year special event '11st Wish Gift Live Broadcast' with broadcaster Tak Jae-hoon starting at 12:30 AM on January 1st. They will conduct prize events and a New Year's countdown, and among customers who leave messages containing New Year's wishes in the live broadcast chat window, 720 people will be selected by lottery to receive SK Pay points.

YouTube Year-End Party Spectacle

Lotte Homeshopping's 'Ontact Year-End Party' Held on YouTube

The change in the distribution industry atmosphere is due to increased stay-at-home life caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Due to the 'ban on gatherings of five or more people' measure following the resurgence of COVID-19 in December, even work meetings at companies are being refrained from. For example, Lotte Homeshopping decided to replace this year's settlement with an untact year-end party using YouTube at the suggestion of CEO Lee Wan-shin. It was conducted in the form of relay interviews with key executives including CEO Lee Wan-shin, conducted by Lotte Homeshopping show hosts on the YouTube channel 'WanShin Live.' Mainly, changes after the organizational restructuring in early December and introductions of new executives in each headquarters were covered.

As a compensation psychology due to the prohibition of going out, demand for premium foods such as Korean beef, lobster, and steak has surged, leading to an increase in marketing events targeting these. 'VIPS,' a family restaurant operated by CJ Foodville, is running a 'VIPS Yum Delivery' discount event until January 10th next year, offering a 25% discount. Lotte Mart is selling various beef products such as 'Jirisan Premium Pure Korean Beef' and 'Gangwon Korean Beef' with up to 30% discount for L.Point members at all stores until January 6th next year. Emart is also selling all brand Korean beef products at a 30% discount until January 6th. Domestic sea and freshwater eel are sold at a 40% discount when accumulating Shinsegae points, and a pack of 6-year-old Bok (Blessing) ginseng is offered at 25,200 KRW, a 10% discount when purchased with event cards.

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