Highway Rest Stop Spending Hit 18,000 Won Per Person Last Chuseok, Late-Night Sales Quadrupled

During last year's Chuseok holiday, visitors spent an average of about 18,000 won per person at highway rest stops.

According to an analysis by KB Kookmin Card of sales trends at highway rest stops affiliated with the company between October 3 and October 9 during last year's Chuseok holiday, average sales during the holiday period surged by 175 percent compared to the daily average of the two weeks preceding the holiday.

Sales increased by 112 percent on the first day of the holiday compared to the daily average of the previous two weeks, rising further by 150 percent on the second day and 200 percent on the third day, before peaking at a 271 percent increase on Chuseok day, the 6th.

The growth rate then gradually declined, dropping to 86 percent on the final day.

By time of day, the increase was particularly noticeable from the night of Chuseok day, the 6th, when return traffic concentrated, through the dawn of the following day.

Compared to the same time slots prior to the holiday, sales increased by 401 percent between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM on Chuseok day, 396 percent between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM, and 361 percent between 11:00 PM and midnight, maintaining high growth rates into the next day, the 7th, with 439 percent between midnight and 1:00 AM, 414 percent between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM, and 213 percent between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM.

A clear surge in sales was also recorded from midnight until daybreak on the 5th, the day before Chuseok.

Sales grew by 292 percent between midnight and 1:00 AM, 432 percent between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM, 359 percent between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, 274 percent between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM, 259 percent between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM, and 222 percent between 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

During the holiday period, KB Kookmin Card customers spent an average of approximately 17,595 won per person at rest stops, making an average of 1.9 transactions.

Both the spending amount per person and the number of transactions were the highest last year since 2022, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The age groups that saw the highest increase rates in rest stop spending during the holiday were those in their 40s (281 percent), followed by those in their 30s (194 percent), 50s (180 percent), 20s (145 percent), and those aged 60 and older (86 percent).

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.