▲ Citizens shopping at the livestock products section of a large supermarket in Seoul ahead of Chuseok in September 2025 (File Photo)
Ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the government plans to nearly double the supply of high-demand festive items compared to normal times and launch massive discount supports for agricultural and livestock products.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) reported these measures during a Cabinet meeting held today (the 1st) at the Blue House, detailing the "Chuseok Livelihood Stability Measures in the Agriculture and Rural Sectors."
Starting three weeks before Chuseok, the Ministry will supply 163,000 tons of 13 major festive items (apples, pears, napa cabbage, radishes, onions, garlic, zucchini, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, chestnuts, and jujubes).
This is equivalent to 1.6 times the normal supply level.
For agricultural products, the supply will be expanded to 2.6 times the normal level by utilizing National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) contract farming and government stockpiles.
Livestock supply will be increased to 1.3 times normal levels through weekend operations at slaughterhouses and increased shipment volumes through Nonghyup channels, while forest products such as chestnuts and jujubes will be increased by 9.0 times using inventories held by the National Forestry Cooperatives Federation.
Seo Jun-han, Director General for Food Industry Policy at MAFRA, stated during a briefing today, "We will pay special attention to expanding the supply of livestock products, which have recently raised concerns due to somewhat high prices," adding, "To secure smooth volumes before the holiday, we will operate nationwide slaughterhouses normally even on weekends, maximize Nonghyup shipment volumes, and concentrate supplies 1 to 2 weeks before Chuseok when demand peaks."
Specifically, during the measure period, 22,000 tons of beef, 67,000 tons of pork—a record high level—and 16,000 tons of chicken will be supplied.
In particular, 4,900 tons of eggs will be released, which is 2.4 times the normal level.
Apart from expanding domestic egg supplies, an additional 10 million imported fresh eggs will be supplied per week, Director General Seo added.
Furthermore, MAFRA will inject 59,000,000,000 won—the largest scale ever for Chuseok—to provide discount supports of up to 40% on all agricultural and livestock products from the 3rd to the 23rd.
There will be no purchase limit per consumer during the event period.
At traditional markets, agricultural discount gift certificates will be sold at a 20% discount off their face value, and an Onnuri gift certificate refund event will be held from the 16th to the 20th, refunding 30% of purchase amounts for domestic agricultural and livestock products.
The traditional market refund event will be expanded from 300 locations this year compared to 200 locations last year.
Agricultural discount gift certificates will be issued on a scale of 20,000,000,000 won, double last year's amount.
Older adults can purchase them from the 7th to the 13th, and general consumers from the 14th to the 20th.
Nonghyup Hanaro Mart and the Nonghyup Mall will offer up to 50% discounts on gift sets and ritual items, while Hanwoo (Korean beef) and Handon (Korean pork) checkoff groups will also hold discount events of up to 50% and 20%, respectively.
Nineteen distribution companies and food enterprises, including E-Mart and Lotte Mart, will also independently promote events with discount rates reaching up to 70% and 64%, respectively.
In addition, MAFRA will increase the supply of budget-friendly gift sets composed of medium and small-sized fruits such as apples, pears, and Shine Muscat grapes from 150,000 sets last year to 230,000 sets this year.
Twenty-two direct-deal markets and online promotional events will also be operated nationwide.
This month, a location-based agricultural and livestock product price and discount information service called the "Smart Consumption Platform" will be pilot-tested in some regions.
In celebration of the Chuseok holiday, MAFRA will also run rural tourism promotion and safety management programs in parallel.
The "Rural Tourism Week" will be operated from the 7th to the 13th to provide discount benefits for rural experience and accommodation products, while admission fees will be waived at 48 national recreational forests and 4 arboretums.
In addition, crackdowns on illegal distributions such as violations of country-of-origin labeling, safety inspections for pesticide residues, and hygiene inspections at slaughterhouses will be strengthened.
An agricultural disaster response task force will be operated to respond to disasters such as typhoons, and information on veterinary hospitals operating during the holidays will be provided on the MAFRA website.
An integrated rescue system (National Animal Protection Information System) will also be operated to enable immediate reporting and rescue upon discovering abandoned or lost animals.
Quarantine inspections on livestock farms and facilities will be promoted before Chuseok, and preventive measures against livestock infectious diseases will be launched, such as designating a unified disinfection day after Chuseok.
Agriculture Minister Song Miryung said, "We will prepare rest and various experience opportunities in rural areas so that this Chuseok can be an abundant and joyful holiday for all citizens," adding, "We will do our best to ease the burden on household grocery shoppers through expanded festive supplies and discount events."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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