Salted shrimp, sea salt to be sold at up to 50% off as kimchi-making season begins

Key kimchi-making ingredients — including salted shrimp, sea salt and anchovy sauce — will be available at up to 50% off as the kimchi-making season gets underway. Mackerel, squid, abalone and other seafood items will also be included in the discounts.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Tuesday it will hold the "Korea Seafood Festa" from Wednesday through Nov. 29. The event is tied to the "2026 Korea Grand Festival," a cross-ministry campaign to boost consumer spending.

Discounted items include kimchi-making staples such as sea salt, salted shrimp, anchovy sauce and oysters, as well as mackerel, squid, hairtail, dried anchovies and dried laver. Farmed seafood — including white-leg shrimp, freshwater eel and abalone — is also covered.

A total of 56 companies will take part, including 24 offline retailers and 32 online shopping platforms.

The ministry will commit 20 billion won ($15.1 million) to subsidize 20% of seafood purchase costs, with government support capped at 10,000 won per person. Combined with retailers' own promotional discounts, consumers can purchase seafood at up to 50% off the regular price.

Schedules and detailed discount items for each participating retailer are available on the official Korea Seafood Festa website.

The event aims to ease the financial burden of buying kimchi-making ingredients, boost consumption of farmed seafood and help producers move their stock more smoothly.

"We have worked with the retail industry to offer salt, jeotgal and other essential kimchi-making ingredients at lower prices," Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo said. "We hope this event helps ease the cost of making kimchi for households and injects new energy into seafood consumption."