'Hanwoo Omakase' with 'Subscription Pass'... Chuseok Gifts Targeting Revenge Spending

Ahead of Department Store Gift Set Main Sale, High-End and Limited Edition Products Released Continuously

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] With this year's Chuseok just three weeks away, family gatherings are expected to be limited due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. In response, department stores are expanding sales by promoting premium holiday gift sets. This strategy targets 'revenge consumption,' where people compensate for the disappointment of not being able to visit their hometowns or relatives with high-priced gifts. The pre-order sales rate for Chuseok gifts was about 40% higher than last year’s, so the retail industry expects even better results during the main sales period.

Dining Out Becomes Difficult... Hanwoo Sets Collaborated with Famous Restaurants

According to Shinsegae Department Store on the 30th, the quantity of Hanwoo gift sets collaborated with famous restaurants has been increased more than threefold for the main Chuseok gift sales starting from the 3rd of next month. Especially since dining out with family has become difficult, they prepared products that allow customers to experience restaurant-quality flavors at home.

Partnering with 'R Gogi,' a representative premium Hanwoo restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, they offer the 'R Gogi Rainy Special' composed of grilling sirloin, tenderloin, and strip steak for 560,000 KRW, and the 'R Gogi Rainy Collection,' which includes practical cuts like grilling sirloin, soup cuts, and bulgogi, for 360,000 KRW. The Hanwoo omakase specialty restaurant 'Motungiwoo' located in Samseong-dong offers an omakase set containing sirloin steak, skirt meat, chuck flap tail, and fan meat for 570,000 KRW.

Hyundai Department Store also prepared a record-high quantity of 65,000 Hanwoo sets. They offer over 70 items including the 'Hyundai Premium Hwaseok Hanwoo Set (900,000 KRW)' and 'Hyundai Hwaseok Hanwoo Sodam Set (220,000 KRW),' which are raised by feeding a self-mixed grain diet of rice straw, barley, and rice bran, as well as the 'Hyundai Special Hanwoo Set (370,000 KRW)' and 'Hyundai Special Hanwoo Practical Set (170,000 KRW).'

Seafood items have also been expanded by about 10% compared to last year, including the 'Hyundai Yeonggwang Chamgulbi 10-piece Set (300,000 KRW),' 'Hyundai Premium Extra-large Hairtail Set (650,000 KRW),' 'Jeju Okdom Set (380,000 KRW),' and 'Practical Live Abalone Set (180,000 KRW).'

Subscription Sets Shared Among Recipients and Rare Global Products

Galleria Department Store offers the 'Healthy Autumn Set' composed of Hanwoo, Songuihyanggo mushrooms, abalone, Shine Muscat grapes, and apple mangoes for 460,000 KRW. The 'Convenient Holiday Set,' which includes various ready-to-eat meals, Hanwoo, and fruits, is priced at 490,000 KRW.

The 'Fresh Food Subscription Gift Set,' introduced for the first time this Chuseok, allows recipients to receive special Hanwoo cuts (450,000 KRW), seasonal fish (300,000 KRW), and seasonal fruits (300,000 KRW) once a week for up to three deliveries.

Lotte Department Store, which began main gift set sales on the 27th, secured limited quantities of rare items mainly focused on meat and fresh produce. The 'Jeju Black Hanwoo Royal Set,' limited to only 1,200 heads, which is 0.04% of the total domestic Hanwoo, and the 'Hanwoo & Ullungmyungyi Set,' created with master artisan Seong Myeong-rye, will be offered at 480,000 KRW and 390,000 KRW respectively. The 'North Atlantic Premium Bluefin Tuna Set' is made from Icelandic wild-caught tuna, which accounts for only 0.4% of the global bluefin tuna catch, and will be sold exclusively by Lotte Department Store at 1,000,000 KRW with only 10 sets available.

A Lotte Department Store official explained, "During this month’s Chuseok pre-order sales period, meat and fresh produce sets grew by 68% and 96% respectively compared to last year’s Chuseok. We have carefully selected items and secured quantities to actively reflect the changing holiday gift trends due to COVID-19, while ensuring that the sincerity and quality of the gift sender are fully conveyed."

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