Up to 57% off processed foods to ease vacation-season grocery bills

A total of 3,838 processed food products — including ramyun, ready meals, beverages and frozen desserts — will be sold at discounts of up to 57 percent to help ease grocery costs during the summer vacation season.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Monday that it will run a month-long processed food discount campaign throughout August in partnership with 10 major food companies, covering hypermarkets, convenience stores and e-commerce platforms.

The campaign was designed to ease the financial burden on consumers during the summer vacation period, when food spending tends to rise as people travel and spend more time away from home.

The 3,838 discounted items span meal staples such as ramyun, instant rice, noodles, frozen food, tofu and kimchi, as well as snacks, beverages, coffee and frozen desserts suited for travel and home use. Discounts reach up to 57 percent.

By company, Nongshim will offer up to 33 percent off 104 products, including packaged ramyun, cup noodles and snacks. CJ CheilJedang will discount 1,256 products — covering ready meals, frozen convenience foods, processed meats, noodles, tofu and kimchi — by up to 50 percent.

Ottogi will cut prices by up to 50 percent on 392 products including ramyun, instant rice, noodles, curry, cooking oil and sauces. Lotte Chilsung will offer up to 57 percent off 692 products such as cola, cider, sports drinks and coffee, while Binggrae will discount 76 products — including frozen desserts, coffee, processed milk and cheese — by up to 33 percent.

The campaign will run across a range of retail channels, including hypermarkets, convenience stores and online shopping platforms. Promotional periods, discount rates and eligible products may vary by retailer and item, so consumers are advised to check details before purchasing.

"Food spending tends to increase during the summer vacation season as people go out and travel, so we hope this campaign helps ease the burden on consumers' grocery bills," said Jeong Gyeong-seok, director general for food industry policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "We will continue working with the food industry to deliver price-stabilization efforts that people can actually feel."