As More People Give Up Returning Home, Convenience Stores Open on Chuseok Day Increase
Various Lunchboxes Released to Feel the Chuseok Holiday Atmosphere
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] As more people give up returning to their hometowns due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of convenience stores open on Chuseok day has increased.
According to the convenience store industry on the 1st, the proportion of Emart24 franchise stores not operating on Chuseok day was 27.7% of the total, down 7.3 percentage points compared to last year.
The annual proportion of Emart24 stores closed on Chuseok day has shown an increasing trend: 24% (597 stores) in 2017, 32% (1,077 stores) in 2018, and 35% (1,446 stores) in 2019. This is because franchise owners can choose business days and hours without conditions when signing the franchise contract.
This year, due to COVID-19, as the number of 'Honchu·Homchu' (people spending Chuseok alone at home without going to their hometown) increased, only 27.7% (1,374 stores) of all franchise stores decided to close on Chuseok day to capture the holiday demand.
CU reportedly has about 1,300 stores closed, which is not much different from last year's Lunar New Year. GS25 also has about 1,100 stores closed, similar to last year.
The convenience store industry has released lunchboxes that allow customers to feel the holiday atmosphere even without going to their hometowns. CU is offering six types of holiday foods that reduce the effort of cooking, including the Hangawi lunchbox, assorted jeon (Korean pancakes), traditional japchae, and chestnut yakbap, available only during the Chuseok period. The 'Premium Hangawi Set Meal' is a lunchbox designed to enjoy beef bulgogi wrapped with Gamtae, a specialty seaweed from Seosan. It includes tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties), myeongtae jeon (pollack pancakes), seafood buchu jeon (chive pancakes), and omisanjeok (skewered meat), served with stir-fried kimchi and seasoned bean sprouts.
There are also 'assorted jeon' and 'traditional japchae.' The 'Hangawi Chestnut Yakbap' contains rice mixed with sweet chestnuts, jujubes, and savory pine nuts.
GS25 launched the 'Royal Braised Meat Lunchbox.' The main dish is royal braised pork, accompanied by side dishes such as chili shrimp stir-fry, rolled omelet, grilled tofu, stir-fried pumpkin, and seasoned dried pollack strips.
CU operates six types of holiday foods that reduce the effort of cooking, including the Hangawi lunchbox filled with exquisite dishes, assorted jeon, traditional japchae, and chestnut yakbap, available only during the Chuseok period. Seven Eleven also introduced the 'Sumi's Abundant Lunchbox,' a home-cooked meal concept lunchbox that captures the touch of a mother's hand. It contains eight types of home-style side dishes, including grilled tteokgalbi, tangpyeongchae (seasoned vegetables), and assorted jeon.
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