Seoul: South Korea began its annual winter shopping festival on Wednesday, launching a 45-day nationwide event designed to attract foreign tourists and increase spending during the tourism off-season. The Korea Grand Sale, which runs until February 28, includes a wide range of discounts on flights, accommodations, and retail products.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this year's festival sees participation from 1,680 South Korean retailers and service providers. Ten South Korean airlines, such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, are offering discounts of up to 94 percent on 214 flight routes to South Korean cities. In collaboration with Trip.com and Konest, foreign airlines will also offer discounts of up to 31 percent on flights from China, Hong Kong, and Japan to South Korea.
Hotel deals feature discounts of up to 19 percent at properties such as Ibis Styles Ambassador and Mayfield Hotel. Major department stores like Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai, and Galleria, along with duty-free shops and outlets, are hosting special promotions. Visitors can receive vouchers and incentives worth up to 1 million won ($684) based on purchase amounts at select locations, including Seoul and Busan.
Musinsa Standard is offering a 10 percent discount at 19 stores nationwide, while Olive Young provides 20 percent discount coupons for purchases over 150,000 won at five stores in the Myeongdong shopping district. The festival also features 17 hands-on experiences that highlight Korean culture, including K-pop, Korean cuisine, cosmetics, heritage sites, and regional attractions. Notable experiences include tours of a Nongshim ramen factory, a fashion modeling class, and traditional accessory-making workshops at Seoul's Bukchon Hanok Village.
In Gangwon Province, tourists can participate in programs at soju distilleries and the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. Additional activities include taekwondo and skiing experiences in Muju, located 161 kilometers south of Seoul. Welcoming centers will be set up in popular shopping districts frequented by foreign visitors, such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu, and Gangnam.
Yu In-chon, the minister of culture, sports, and tourism, expressed hope that foreign tourists visiting during the Korea Grand Sale festival will enjoy both the substantial discounts and the unique aspects of Korean culture.