5,000-Won Portable Ritual Set Sells Out
"Cost-Effective Ritual Table" Gains Popularity Amid Rising Chuseok Costs
As Chuseok approaches, the cost of preparing the traditional holiday table is becoming a burden for many, leading those seeking more rational spending to take notice of Daiso's ceremonial items.
The most popular product is the "portable ritual set." When folded in half, it measures 35x39 cm and can be carried like a bag; when unfolded, it serves as a compact ritual table, making it highly portable. The set includes ritual dishes, a liquor cup, a saucer for the cup, and chopsticks, enhancing its practicality. It is considered well-suited for memorial visits or simplified ancestral rites.
Priced at 5,000 won, it costs less than half of the small sets sold online, which typically range from 20,000 to 40,000 won. For this reason, it has been dubbed the "cost-effective ritual table" and is sold out again this year. Customers who purchased the product commented positively, saying, "I used to bring paper plates and cups when visiting ancestral graves, but I switched to this product," and "I bought it for memorial visits. It's only 5,000 won, but the size and contents are just right, and the quality is excellent."
In addition, Daiso offers a "memorial tablet writing set," which bundles a holder, template, traditional Korean paper, and brush pen to make writing memorial tablets easier. The company also sells ritual incense, stick candles, cash envelopes, and other Chuseok-specific products under the "Chuseok Holiday" tab. Other useful kitchen tools for holiday meal preparation, such as vegetable choppers, spatulas, and storage containers, are also available in this section.
According to a survey released this year by the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation on the "Chuseok table setting costs," preparing a Chuseok table for a family of six to seven at a large supermarket averages 274,321 won. Traditional markets are about 13.7% cheaper at 236,723 won, but the financial burden on consumers remains significant. In this context, there is a growing trend to simplify holiday preparations or seek rational alternatives, driving the popularity of cost-effective household goods like Daiso's portable ritual set.
Meanwhile, Daiso continues to solidify its reputation as a "cost-effective brand" with affordable yet practical products and an extensive product lineup, maintaining steady growth. Last year, the company posted sales of 3.9689 trillion won and an operating profit of 371.1 billion won, achieving an operating margin of 9%.
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