Korea designates Sept. 11-27 as special price stabilization period for Chuseok

The Ministry of Interior and Safety said Thursday it will carry out a Chuseok price stabilization management plan as part of the government's Chuseok livelihood stabilization measures. The plan prioritizes price stability and preventing practices that hurt ordinary people's livelihoods.

The ministry designated Sept. 11-27 as a special price stabilization period for Chuseok and will fully activate comprehensive price situation rooms at the local government level.

Division and department heads at local governments will be appointed as price officials responsible for surveying the prices of key Chuseok holiday goods and disclosing them on local government websites, strengthening on-the-ground price management.

The ministry will also focus on rooting out price gouging that targets the holiday shopping rush.

Together with relevant ministries, local governments and civic groups, the Ministry of Interior and Safety will form joint inspection teams to crack down on price gouging. The inspections will focus on stores selling Chuseok holiday goods, restaurants and lodging facilities. Enforcement against unfair practices that add to the burden on ordinary people's livelihoods will be intensified.

A reporting channel will also be set up for price gouging complaints, allowing anyone to report violations quickly and easily by phone or QR code. In principle, local governments will begin on-site investigations within 24 hours of receiving a report. When violations such as failure to display prices are confirmed, authorities plan to take strict action, including corrective orders or business suspensions, to raise public awareness.

Alongside this, benefits for consumers using "good-price stores" — designated businesses that offer quality service at affordable prices despite rising costs — will be expanded throughout September.

The number of card companies offering a 2,000 won discount for purchases of 10,000 won ($7) or more at good-price stores will be expanded to six. They are Lotte, Samsung, Hana, Hyundai, KB Kookmin and NH Nonghyup. Consumers who visit at least three good-price stores in September and submit reviews will be entered into a raffle for commemorative gifts.

Further details are available on the card companies' apps and the good-price stores website.

To allow people to shop without worrying about parking, parking will be allowed for up to two hours on roads near 420 traditional markets nationwide from Sept. 11-27.

Local governments plan to publish the designated parking zones on their websites in advance and install guidance banners and deploy management staff to reduce inconvenience for shoppers while strengthening safety management.

However, areas directly tied to safety — such as around fire department facilities, child protection zones and locations with frequent traffic accidents — will be excluded from the parking allowance.

Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung said, "We will carefully monitor grocery prices and conditions on the ground so that the public can enjoy a bountiful and comfortable Chuseok holiday." He added, "In particular, we will respond preemptively and strictly to unfair practices such as price gouging that targets the holiday rush, and we will devote all our capabilities to price stabilization measures the public can feel firsthand, including expanded benefits for using good-price stores and allowing parking near traditional markets."