"Now It's Time to Prepare" Early Chuseok, Gift Sets This Time 'Gashimbi vs Gaseongbi' (Comprehensive)

Department Stores Simultaneously Launch Full Sales of Chuseok Gift Sets
Strengthening 'Gashimbi' Premium Products Emphasizing Psychological Satisfaction
Eco-friendly, Unique, Cost-effective... Diversifying Product Assortments

Models are introducing Chuseok gift sets at Lotte Department Store.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] As the early Chuseok (September 10) approaches, department stores are gearing up for the main sales of Chuseok gift sets amid busy preparations for gift-giving. They are emphasizing products with psychological satisfaction, premium items, and diversifying their lineup with eco-friendly, unique, and cost-effective products.

According to the distribution industry on the 15th, Lotte Department Store will begin the main sales of Chuseok gift sets from the 19th. Lotte Department Store expects an increase in visitors returning to their hometowns after a long time this Chuseok and anticipates that the expanded culture of premium gifting, which grew during COVID-19, will continue. Therefore, they have expanded 'value-for-psychological-satisfaction' gifts centered on premium products.

Lotte Department Store increased the quantity of premium gifts centered on ultra-high-priced products with high rarity value by more than 40% compared to last Lunar New Year. A representative product is the 'Prestige No.9 Luxury Hanwoo Gift (3 million KRW)', which was first introduced last Lunar New Year and sold out. It is composed of only the best parts such as flower sirloin, tenderloin, and striploin from the highest grade 1++ Hanwoo with a marbling score of 9. The 'Luxury Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Gulbi Gift Set One (4 million KRW)', consisting of 10 selected yellow corvina fish weighing about 400g each, which are caught in very limited quantities domestically, and the 'Jung Kwan Jang Dabolog Cheonram (11 million KRW)', which features the highest-grade wild ginseng presented in a mother-of-pearl box made by Korea’s master lacquerware craftsman Kwon Young-jin, are also considered special gifts representing this Chuseok. Additionally, limited quantities of top-tier whiskies and wines such as 'Dalmore 40 Years (34 million KRW)' and '5 Great Chateau Great Vintage Gift (15 million KRW)' will be offered.

They have also prepared a variety of 'good gifts' to satisfy customers who pursue value consumption such as eco-friendly and vegan products. This Chuseok, new certified seafood gift sets priced between 100,000 and 150,000 KRW will be introduced, including ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) internationally certified live abalone gifts representing sustainable aquaculture, antibiotic-free live shrimp gifts raised safely in smart farms without antibiotics, and Jangsu-cheon antibiotic-free eel gifts. Eco-friendly Hanwoo premium gifts raised in comfortable environments using organic farming methods, such as animal welfare Hanwoo premium gifts and Sancheong organic Hanwoo premium gifts, as well as vegan-related gift sets like Organica vegan ready meals and Altist vegan meal kit gifts, will also be available in various options.

They have also strengthened practical gift sets that add cost-effectiveness. Lotte Department Store, in collaboration with the red ginseng specialist brand 'Cheonjemyeong,' participated directly in the entire process from product development to launch, offering red ginseng, a steady seller for holiday gifts, at reasonable prices. Representative products include 'Lotte×Cheonjemyeong Round Red Ginseng Extract (123,000 KRW)' and 'Lotte×Cheonjemyeong Comfortable Red Ginseng Concentrate (120,000 KRW),' all made from 100% 6-year-old red ginseng. They also prepared 'Whole Fresh Shine 3-Item Gift Jin,' a set combining fruits and nuts, and 'Hanwoo Sincerity Steak Gift,' which allows gifting Hanwoo steak cuts at around 100,000 KRW.

Shinsegae Department Store will start the main sales of Chuseok gift sets from the 22nd, emphasizing unique products and eco-friendly packaging. The quantity is increased by 20% compared to last Chuseok, totaling about 450,000 sets.

Shinsegae Department Store is increasing the proportion of unique fruits such as apple mango and hwanggeumhyang, as well as collaboration products with famous restaurants every year. Unique fruit gift sets, which accounted for 30% last Chuseok, will be expanded to 50% this year. Representative products include a rich melon mixed set, Yeonggwang mango mixed set, and Shine Muscat apple and pear set.

Gift sets collaborated with famous domestic restaurants such as Motungiwoo, Utender, and R Meat will also be introduced with doubled quantities this year. Starting this Chuseok, they will introduce steak sets in collaboration with the world-renowned culinary education institution 'Le Cordon Bleu' for the first time. Representative products include the Le Cordon Bleu Home Party Set and Le Cordon Bleu Steak Set.

Eco-friendly gift sets will also be expanded. Shinsegae will introduce fruit trays and dividers made of paper for the first time this Chuseok. Fruit trays and dividers, also called nanjwa, are essential materials used to prevent product damage and shock and to balance weight, traditionally made from styrofoam or synthetic resin. To establish an eco-friendly consumption culture, Shinsegae plans to apply recyclable eco-friendly fruit trays and dividers to apple and pear gift sets starting this Chuseok and expand their use later. The proportion of eco-friendly packaging will also increase. The eco-friendly boxes introduced for fruit gift sets will be expanded from 50% to 80%.

Until Chuseok day, more than 4,200 gift sets can be found through SSG.com. Up to 1 million KRW in SSG Money rewards will be given based on purchase amounts until the 21st. Members of the integrated membership 'Smile Club' will also receive a 12% discount coupon for top health food brands. From the 22nd to the 10th of next month, SSG Money rewards up to 700,000 KRW based on purchase amounts will be provided.

Models are showcasing unique fruit sets at Shinsegae Department Store.

Hyundai Department Store also expects an increase in demand for premium gifts and will expand the quantity of high-priced gift sets over 1 million KRW by about 20% compared to last year. Hyundai Department Store will conduct the main sales of Chuseok gift sets from the 22nd to the 9th of next month at 16 stores nationwide, including the Apgujeong Main Store, as well as online malls such as The Hyundai.com, Hyundai Food Hall to Home, and Hyundai H Mall.

During the Lunar New Year gift set sales period, Hyundai Department Store’s sales of ultra-premium Hanwoo gift sets priced over 1 million KRW increased by 45% compared to the same period last year. Most products sold out early.

A Hyundai Department Store official said, "Recently, the demand for premium gifts to express special feelings to loved ones has increased. Especially, with the earlier Chuseok this year, the demand to prepare gifts in advance has grown, and the number of consultations during the Chuseok gift set pre-order period has more than doubled compared to last year."

To meet this demand, Hyundai Department Store will offer about 95,000 sets of Hanwoo gift sets, the largest quantity ever. The quantity of ultra-premium gift sets over 1 million KRW will increase by 50% compared to last year, and the number of items will increase from 5 to 6. The representative highest-priced Hanwoo set is the 'Hyundai Premium Hanwoo Number Nine (2.5 million KRW),' which uses only the highest marbling grade (No.9) of 1++ grade Hanwoo.

Seafood sets include the 'Hyundai Premium Yellow Corvina 10-Fish Salted Set (3.5 million KRW),' which selects only extra-large top-grade yellow corvina salted by traditional methods, the 'Hyundai Premium Extra-Large Hairtail Set (650,000 KRW),' selecting only extra-large hairtail weighing over 1.6 kg each, and the 'Premium Wild Abalone Mae Set (650,000 KRW),' selecting only wild abalone from Wando.

Fruit and premium dessert gift set quantities will also be expanded by more than 20% compared to last year. Along with apple mango and Shine Muscat, Hyundai Department Store will expand the operation of premium green grapes Yuho grapes and Violet King, which were first introduced by Hyundai in the industry and received good customer responses. Yuho grapes and Violet King are characterized by higher sweetness, softer texture, and larger size than regular grapes. Representative fresh fruit gift sets include the 'Hyundai Premium Yuho & Violet King Set' and the 'Hyundai Premium Red Mango, Green Mango, Apple, Pear Set.'

Additionally, Hyundai Department Store will offer about 50 types of gift sets from 'Myeongin Myeongchon,' a premium traditional food brand it operates. Myeongin Myeongchon gathers products from masters who maintain tradition in various regions of Korea and make unique Korean foods in their own ways, gaining steady popularity since 2009. Customers can also create DIY gift sets by selecting desired products from over 220 items. A representative product is the 'Myeongin Myeongchon Mibon Rice Set.'

Galleria Department Store will start the main sales of Chuseok gift sets from August 23 to September 9 at all its food halls. The keywords for Galleria Department Store’s Chuseok gift sets are 'value consumption and strengthening exclusive sets.' They focus on value consumption gift sets related to environmental protection and respect for life, along with exclusive sets only available at Galleria.

Galleria is introducing value consumption gift sets this Chuseok. A representative example is the 'No Plastic Package' gift set, which replaces plastic packaging materials with paper for eco-friendly packaging. Items include musk melon sets, domestic mango sets, and organic grain sets. Additionally, animal welfare pork sets made from livestock raised on animal welfare farms, carbon-neutral certified winery Cono Sur wine sets, and Chaga Rest skincare sets certified vegan by France’s Yves are prepared.

They also put effort into strengthening exclusive sets only available at Galleria. Collaborating with brands in the 'Delisery' corner of Gourmet 494, the food hall of the luxury department store reopened in February, Galleria offers differentiated gift sets. Representative examples include Your Naked Cheese gift sets, Geochang Korean Water by Surin soy sauce and perilla oil sets, and Angelina Marron Glace sets. Fashion brand gifts collaborated with overseas fashion brands such as James Perse, Forer Passage, and Fred Segal, which hold exclusive sales rights and continue their business, are also available.

There are also high-priced liquor gift sets reflecting the rapidly rising liquor trends. Limited edition premium single malt whiskies such as Glenfiddich 40 Years, Macallan M Decanter, and Macallan NO.6, as well as high-priced wine sets like Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, and Chateau d’Yquem, are offered in various options. The 'Gangjin Maekwoo' gift set, one of the most popular items among existing Chuseok gift sets, is also available.