Government to slash chuseok grocery prices up to 40% with W59b push

The government will supply 163,000 tons of 13 key chuseok staples — including apples, pears, Korean beef and eggs — ahead of the holiday, 1.6 times the normal volume. It will inject 59 billion won ($43 million), a record for any chuseok, to discount all domestic farm and livestock products by up to 40%, with no per-person discount cap during the promotional period.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the measures Tuesday as part of its "chuseok livelihood stabilization plan for agriculture and rural communities." Beyond expanding supply and discount support to ease the burden on holiday shoppers, the ministry said it would also pursue rural tourism promotion and food safety management.

The 13 staples under intensive government management are apples, pears, napa cabbage, radish, onions, garlic, zucchini, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, chestnuts and jujubes. A total of 163,084 tons will be supplied starting three weeks before chuseok — 1.6 times the normal supply of 102,362 tons and 4 percent more than last year's chuseok. Potatoes and persimmons, which were on the managed list last year, have been removed this year.

The supply of produce will rise to 49,660 tons, 2.6 times the normal level. Apple supply is set at 17,000 tons and pears at 14,600 tons — each more than three times the usual volume — drawing on contract-farmed stock through the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and government reserves.

For livestock products, slaughterhouses will operate on weekends and cooperative shipments will be expanded to bring total supply to 110,944 tons, up 34.2 percent from normal levels. The breakdown: 67,000 tons of pork, 22,530 tons of beef, 16,500 tons of chicken and 4,914 tons of eggs. Egg supply in particular will reach 2.4 times the normal level.

The 59 billion won discount program will run from Sept. 3 to Sept. 23 at more than 12,000 outlets, including large and mid-size supermarkets, online shopping platforms and traditional markets, covering all categories of fresh domestic farm and livestock products. Shoppers at large and mid-size supermarkets can receive discounts of up to 40 percent through government subsidies. The per-person discount cap that previously applied will be lifted for the duration of the event.

Support for traditional markets will also be expanded. Mobile agricultural discount vouchers will be issued at double last year's volume — 20 billion won worth — and sold at 20 percent below face value. Older consumers may purchase them Monday through Sept. 13, and the general public from Sept. 14 through Sept. 20. A cashback event using Onuri gift certificates will run Sept. 16–20 at 300 traditional markets nationwide. Shoppers who spend between 34,000 won and 66,999 won on domestic farm and livestock products will receive 10,000 won back, while those spending 67,000 won or more will receive 20,000 won.

Separately from government discounts, producer groups and retail and food companies will run their own promotions. Hanaro Mart will offer up to 50 percent off gift sets and holiday staples, 30–50 percent off Korean beef and around 20 percent off Korean pork. Discounts at individual retailers will reach as high as 70 percent.

In the food industry, 19 companies will participate, discounting 4,755 products across 27 categories — including ramyun, noodles, kimchi, fermented sauces, processed meats, dairy and confectionery — by up to 64 percent.

The supply of value-oriented chuseok gift sets will also grow. Budget gift sets featuring mid-size fruit such as apples, pears and shine muscat grapes will increase from 150,000 sets last year to 230,000 this year. Direct-sale markets will operate at 22 locations nationwide, and a location-based smart savings platform providing nearby farm and livestock product prices and discount information will be piloted in five regions during September.

Rural tourism support will run alongside the holiday measures. A "rural tourism week" from Monday through Sept. 13 will offer discounts on farm experience and accommodation packages. During the holiday, admission will be waived at 48 national recreation forests and four arboretums, and visitors who spend 50,000 won or more in a region will receive a 10 percent discount on lodging at select forest welfare facilities.

Enforcement of country-of-origin labeling, produce safety inspections and slaughterhouse hygiene checks will be stepped up. An agricultural disaster response operations center will remain staffed through the holiday, and information on veterinary clinics open during the break will be made available. A system for the immediate reporting and rescue of stray and abandoned animals will also be activated.

"We will do our utmost to ease the burden on shoppers through expanded supply of holiday staples and discount events," Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryeong said.