Prepare Next Year's Lunar New Year Gifts in Advance at the December 'Donghaeng Festival'

Popular Items Including Hanwoo Gift Sets, Hangwa, and Samgyetang

At this year’s final December ‘Donghaeng Festival,’ attention is focused on excellent small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and small business products that make great gifts for loved ones such as family and friends during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. This is because the Donghaeng Festival offers an opportunity to prepare gifts more affordably in anticipation of the Lunar New Year at the end of January next year. Various products catch the eye, from the representative gift of Korean beef (Hanwoo) to yakgwa, a traditional sweet indispensable during the holidays, and samgyetang, a nourishing chicken soup to replenish energy during the cold winter.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Distribution Center announced on the 23rd that they are conducting the ‘Donghaeng Festival,’ a nationwide consumer promotion event, to help boost sales of SME and small business products struggling due to domestic demand contraction. The festival, which started on the 1st and continues for a month until the 28th, involves all economic actors including major private distribution channels, local governments, and traditional markets.

At the opening ceremony of the December Donghaeng Festival held from the 6th to the 8th in Hongdae, Seoul, about 8,000 visitors came daily, with a total of 22,619 visitors over the three days. Starting from this, 100 companies selected by consumers and experts from among the 600 companies that participated in the Donghaeng Festivals in May and September are showcasing various products. Additionally, to spread the value of sharing at the end of the year, both online and offline events such as charity bazaars and donation of proceeds are underway.

'Hanwoo Gift Set' sold by Geumo Food System

This December Donghaeng Festival featured excellent products ideal for Lunar New Year gifts. A representative example is the ‘Hanwoo Gift Set’ sold by Geumo Food System. Geumo Food System is a high-quality Hanwoo-specialized SME that produces gift sets using Hanwoo raised at its own manufacturing site through a cold chain production system certified by HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). They have repeatedly conducted research to maximize the taste of Hanwoo and developed and utilize a patented five-stage aging technology. Furthermore, to ensure consumer trust, they have introduced a livestock traceability system that allows easy verification of producers and production locations. To maintain freshness, delivery is done through oxygen vacuum and refrigerated packaging.

Dalgubeol Hangwa's 'Dalgubeol Yakgwa'

Dalgubeol Hangwa introduced ‘Dalgubeol Yakgwa.’ Dalgubeol Hangwa is a traditional confectionery manufacturer operated by CEO Hwang Hajung, who started making hangwa as wedding food in 1999 to help her mother-in-law. They produce Korean traditional sweets using natural ingredients from nature at reasonable prices. The yakgwa presented this time is made by kneading finely sifted flour with glutinous rice flour and liquor, shaping it into flower forms, and then frying it. The large yakgwa measures about 4?5 cm, and the small ones about 3 cm, making them bite-sized. They are characterized by a crispy and firm texture with cinnamon and ginger aromas. It is said that they taste even better when paired with beverages such as coffee or tea.

Freshheim's 'Healthy Samgyetang'

Freshheim showcased ‘Healthy Samgyetang.’ Samgyetang, well known as a restorative food, is perfect for replenishing energy in the weakened body during the cold winter. Freshheim manufactures samgyetang using domestic young chicken and whole 5-year-old Korean ginseng. They also add nutritious ingredients such as jujube, chestnut, ginkgo, angelica, astragalus, and mung beans to enhance both taste and nutrition. The product comes in a 900g pack, suitable for two servings, making it ample for consumption. It is produced in a HACCP-certified facility, ensuring safety. Another advantage is that the ready-to-eat product can be prepared simply by boiling it in water for 10 minutes, making consumption convenient.

Detailed information about the products showcased at the December Donghaeng Festival can be found on the official Donghaeng Festival website.