70 Billion Invested for 'Seol Holiday Product Discounts'... Up to 50% Off

The government is taking steps to ease consumers' shopping burdens during the Lunar New Year holiday by increasing the discount support for seasonal products by 10 billion won and issuing additional Zero Pay Nonghal gift certificates that can be used in traditional markets. Major food companies are also holding discount events of up to 50%.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 26th, the scale of discount support for this year's Lunar New Year holiday is 70 billion won. This is an increase of 10 billion won from the 60 billion won announced earlier on the 9th through the '2025 Lunar New Year Seasonal Product Supply Stabilization Plan.'

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (second from right), is visiting Kang Hodong, President of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and Hanaro Mart Yangjae Branch on the 23rd to check the supply and demand situation of major agricultural and livestock products for the Lunar New Year holiday.

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An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained, "As the cost of Lunar New Year table settings announced by various institutions recently has increased compared to last year, we decided to expand the discount support items and increase the scale. Accordingly, the number of discount support items will increase from the original 28 items to 31 items as the Lunar New Year approaches."

During the week two weeks before Lunar New Year, from the 16th to the 22nd, additional items such as tangerines and citrus fruits, green onions, young cabbage, young radish leaves, balloon flower roots, bracken, spring cabbage, paprika, and king oyster mushrooms were added to the existing 14 discount support items including napa cabbage and pork (front leg). During the week one week before Lunar New Year, from the 23rd to the 29th, beef (brisket and seoldo), carrots, cabbage, spinach, Cheongyang chili peppers, zucchini, and cucumbers were added, while eggs, tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes were excluded.

Additional Zero Pay Nonghal gift certificates that can be used in traditional markets were also issued. Previously, a total of 20 billion won worth was issued but fully exhausted, so an additional 6.6 billion won worth was issued and sold to consumers at a 30% discounted price.

Discount events led by producer organizations such as the Korean Beef Fund and Korean Pork Fund are also being promoted. Korean beef is being sold at 30-50% discounted prices for sirloin, brisket, bulgogi, and soup cuts at Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, large supermarkets, and major online malls until the 29th, and the Korean Pork Fund is additionally holding discount events for domestic pork at large and medium-sized supermarkets and Nonghyup Hanaro Mart.

Food companies including kimchi manufacturers are also participating in easing consumer burdens through their own discount supplies. Major food companies and members of the Kimchi Association are conducting discount events of up to 50% on about 800 products including kimchi, ramen, snacks, and sauces at large supermarkets, convenience stores, and e-commerce platforms.

On the 23rd, Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, who inspected the supply and demand situation of major agricultural and livestock products for the Lunar New Year holiday, said, "If agricultural product prices rise sharply, imports increase, which may worsen the domestic agricultural self-sufficiency base. Therefore, it is necessary to supply stable quantities to the market at appropriate prices." She added, "The government will make every effort to ease consumers' shopping burdens during the Lunar New Year peak season through expanding the supply of seasonal products and discount support."

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