Appearing on resale markets just one day after being revealed...already marked as "reserved"
Popular every year...active premium-priced trading in the secondhand market
As soon as President Lee Jaemyung's Lunar New Year gift sets began to be shipped, they started appearing for sale on second-hand trading platforms, drawing public attention. Within just one day of their release, some listings were already marked as "reserved," indicating strong demand.
The 2026 Blue House Lunar New Year gift set is listed on Danggeun Market. Blue House, Danggeun Market
Appearing on Danggeun Market right after release...priced between 200,000 and 500,000 won
On February 5, a series of posts titled "Selling President Lee Jaemyung's Chuseok gift set" were uploaded to the second-hand trading platform Danggeun Market. This came just one day after the Presidential Office disclosed the composition of the holiday gifts.
Most sellers stressed that the gift sets were unopened and offered them at prices ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 won. Some listings quickly switched to reserved status as purchase inquiries poured in immediately after they were posted.
Sent to patriotic heroes and socially disadvantaged groups
According to the Blue House on February 4, this year's Lunar New Year gift sets are being shipped in stages to key figures from various sectors, patriotic heroes who devoted themselves to the nation, and socially disadvantaged groups. In particular, this year the spouses of democracy merit honorees and war veterans have been newly added to the list of recipients.
The gift set was curated to convey the warmth of "home-cooked meals" and a message of support for the daily lives of the people. It includes ingredients that symbolize holiday and winter dining tables, such as rice and mixed grains, sliced rice cake for tteokguk, seaweed fulvescens (maesaengi), shredded shiitake mushrooms, and traditional soy sauce. The ingredients were sourced from five major regions - the capital area, Chungcheong area, southeastern area, Daegyeong area, and Honam area - as well as three special regions: Jeju, Gangwon, and Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Provinces. This composition is intended to highlight the values of balanced regional development and mutual growth.
Presidential Office Chuseok gift set posted on Danggeun Market during last Chuseok holiday. Danggeun Market
The recurring practice of 'reselling presidential gifts'
Presidential holiday gifts have long been regarded as popular items in the second-hand market. Because of their commemorative nature and rarity, they tend to be traded steadily even at relatively high prices.
During the Chuseok holiday in 2023, former President Yoon Suk Yeol's holiday gift sets were posted in large numbers on Danggeun Market and Bungaejangter. Sets that included regional specialties such as gochujang from Sunchang in Jeonbuk, doenjang from Yangpyeong, and perilla oil from Yecheon were traded in the 170,000 to 300,000 won range. Gift sets from the same year's Lunar New Year holiday also changed hands at around 200,000 to 300,000 won.
However, there has also been criticism that, contrary to the original intent of the gifts, some recipients put them up for sale immediately after receiving them, turning symbolic gifts delivered in the president's name into monetary value right away.
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