Large Mart Extends Agricultural Products Discount Event Until March 3 Ahead of Seollal Holiday

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Ahead of the Lunar New Year, major large-scale marts such as Emart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus are offering discounts on key agricultural products whose prices have recently risen, including eggs, onions, and garlic.

According to the distribution industry on the 30th, these large marts have extended the "Let's Buy Korean Agricultural Products Discount" event, originally scheduled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from the 15th to the 28th, until the 3rd of next month. As prices of some agricultural products continue to rise ahead of the Lunar New Year, the discount period has been extended by one more week.

During this period, Emart and SSG.com offer a 20% discount benefit exclusively to Shinsegae Point members who purchase products from the agricultural discount event. The same discount rate applies both online and offline, and either a shopping cart coupon or a Shinsegae Point coupon can be applied at checkout.

Winter’s representative snack, domestic chestnut sweet potatoes (800g), which have increased in price due to poor harvests, are sold at 3,980 won, 20% off the regular price. Peeled garlic (300g), whose market price has risen significantly, is also sold at 1,580 won with a 20% discount. Shiitake mushrooms (pack), which see a large increase in demand during the holidays, are priced at 3,820 won, and assorted ssam (2780 won), cucumber-flavored chili peppers (2,060 won), and emperor mushrooms (3,820 won) are also sold at 20% lower prices.

Lotte Mart is also holding the agricultural discount event until the 3rd of next month, offering 20% discounts on 12 agricultural products including onions, tangerines, seaweed, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green onions, cabbage, broccoli, chili peppers, cucumbers, and mushrooms to L.Point membership members.

Among these, the discount on onions applies only until the 31st. Eggs, which were discounted last week, are included again in this event to stabilize prices.

Homeplus offers a 20% discount on eggs and dried chili peppers to My Homeplus membership members. The "Fresh Special Eggs (30 eggs)" are sold at 5,400 won after an additional 1,000 won discount from the coupon-applied price of 6,400 won, and "Grade 1 Large Eggs (30 eggs)" are sold at 5,500 won after an additional 500 won discount from the coupon-applied price of 6,000 won.

However, to prevent hoarding due to the recent sharp rise in egg prices, large marts are limiting purchases, allowing consumers to buy only one tray (30 eggs) per person.

Gwak Dae-hwan, Emart’s vegetable team leader, said, "We are conducting the agricultural product discount event to contribute to price stabilization in line with the Ministry of Agriculture’s policy. We will continue to plan various events to ease customers’ shopping burdens and support domestic farmers in securing sales channels."