The Evolution of Chuseok Gift Delivery Service: "Same-Day Delivery Within 2 Hours Available"

Food Industry Introduces Delivery Service Allowing Selection of Shipping and Receiving Dates
Large Marts and Department Stores Extend Chuseok Gift Set Delivery Registration Period

CheongKwanJang's same-day application same-day delivery service.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Amid the unprecedented first non-face-to-face (untact) Chuseok due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), food and distribution companies are focusing on strengthening delivery services. They are putting effort into evolving services such as same-day delivery and allowing customers to select desired shipping and receiving dates.

KGC Ginseng Corporation's CheongKwanJang will operate the 'Same-Day Application & Same-Day Delivery' service, which allows customers to order CheongKwanJang products and receive them on the same day, for seven days from the 23rd to noon on the 29th.

Customers who want to use CheongKwanJang's 'Same-Day Application & Same-Day Delivery' service can visit one of the approximately 800 CheongKwanJang road shops nationwide or check available products and delivery areas by phone and then apply. The 'Same-Day Application & Same-Day Delivery' service, provided to customers purchasing over 200,000 KRW, enables real-time receipt of Chuseok gifts through direct delivery from a nearby CheongKwanJang store or quick service immediately after payment for fast delivery, and it is free of charge. CheongKwanJang explained that since regular parcel delivery often closes on the 22nd or 23rd and considering delivery delays due to COVID-19, they prepared a special service for customers close to the holiday.

The health food specialty mall 'CheongKwanJang Mall' also offers a 'Store Pickup Service.' This service allows customers to pay online while enjoying various benefits of CheongKwanJang Mall, receive an exchange voucher via text message, and pick up products at their desired CheongKwanJang store at their preferred time slot. It can be used in environments where parcel delivery is difficult or when the address is unknown, or when customers want to deliver gifts with more sincerity than parcel delivery.

A CheongKwanJang official said, "With increased interest in immune health due to COVID-19, CheongKwanJang red ginseng is popular as a heartfelt Chuseok gift," adding, "We prepared services that transcend the concepts of time and space, reflecting consumers' 'convenience premium' consumption trends."

Lotte Department Store's Direct Delivery Service.

Dongwon F&B launched the 'Giftimoa' service through Dongwon Mall, which allows gift sets to be easily sent and received via text message. By entering only the phone number, the sender can schedule delivery at the desired time, and the recipient can enter their address to receive the gift on the preferred date.

Pulmuone Orga Whole Foods introduced a delivery service within two hours. Using the 'Orga Store Order Service,' customers can order online or by phone and receive delivery within two hours from the nearest store. The same-day store delivery service is also available during the holiday parcel delivery cutoff period. In some areas, Orga staff directly deliver on the same day with the 'Orga Safe, Fresh Delivery Service' during the holiday period. Free delivery is provided for purchases over 40,000 KRW on the Orga shopping mall and over 50,000 KRW offline, limited to Seoul and the areas of Seongnam (Bundang), Goyang (Ilsan), Gunpo (Sanbon), Anyang, Gwacheon, Suwon, and Uijeongbu. A 'Handwritten Letter Event' is also held, allowing customers who purchase at stores to include a handwritten letter inside the gift set. An Orga Whole Foods official said, "This Chuseok gift set event features expanded 'untact sales' to enhance consumer convenience amid the spread of non-face-to-face consumption."

CJ CheilJedang also introduced the 'Untact Gifting' service through CJ The Market. This service allows the purchaser to receive the product delivery on the desired date. They also launched a 'Multiple Delivery' service that enables sending to multiple addresses with a single payment. By entering only the recipient's phone number, a gift notification text is sent, and the recipient can then enter delivery information themselves to receive the gift.

Large supermarkets and department stores extended the Chuseok gift set delivery registration period and introduced same-day delivery services one after another. First, they accept Chuseok gift set delivery orders until the 30th. The registration period was extended compared to previous years for customers who could not prepare gifts before the holiday.

Hyundai Department Store operates a 'Last-Minute Holiday Delivery Service' that delivers gift sets on the day of purchase within a 5 km radius of each store. Five stores including Apgujeong Main Store, Sinchon Store, Mia Store, D-Cube City, and Dong-gu Store offer this service until the 30th, while ten stores including Trade Center Store, Mokdong Store, Pangyo Store, Cheonho Store, and Jungdong Store offer it until the 28th. Hyundai Department Store also introduced a next-day delivery system. If gift sets are purchased by the 29th at ten stores including Apgujeong Main Store, they will be delivered by the 30th to the Seoul and Gyeonggi metropolitan areas.

Lotte Department Store launched the 'Immediate Delivery Service,' which allows customers to receive products within three hours after ordering. Delivery is available throughout Seoul. From the 25th to the 29th at the Lotte Department Store Main Branch, customers purchasing fresh gift sets such as meat, fruits, and dried yellow corvina worth 90,000 KRW or more can receive immediate delivery. Same-day orders are accepted until 5:30 PM.

Emart operates same-day local delivery of Chuseok gift sets at 38 stores including Yongsan, Eunpyeong, and Changdong until the end of this month. The service is available until 6 PM. Lotte Mart also accepts local delivery orders for gift sets. An industry insider said, "This Chuseok, it is important to ensure safe sending and receiving of gifts compared to previous years," adding, "Most companies have strengthened same-day delivery and easy delivery date change services."