The government announced its Chuseok livelihood stabilization measures at a Cabinet meeting on September 1. The plan’s core measures are to increase supplies of Chuseok essentials to 183,000 tons—about 1.6 times the normal level—over the three weeks before Chuseok, while providing discounts on agricultural, livestock, and seafood products and refunds at traditional markets.
Key Changes
The supply plan includes 18,000 tons of vegetables, 32,000 tons of fruit, approximately 90,000 tons of beef and pork, and 17,000 tons of chicken. The government also plans to supply 2,480 tons of forest products, including chestnuts and jujubes—about nine times the normal level. Two million tons of government stockpiles of six seafood products—mackerel, pollock, squid, hairtail, yellow croaker, and dried anchovies—will also be supplied at prices up to 40% below market prices.
Current Status
Discount support will begin and run for different periods depending on the product.
| Category | Period / Start Date | Support |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and livestock products | September 3–23 | Discounts of up to 40% |
| Seafood | September 9–October 4 | Discounts of up to 50% |
| Traditional-market refunds | September 16–20 | Approximately 30% refund at 300 markets by sector, capped at 20,000 won per sector |
A total of 103 billion won will be allocated for agricultural, livestock, and seafood discounts: 59 billion won for agricultural and livestock products and 44 billion won for seafood. At online malls and large retailers, the weekly discount limit per person will be increased to as much as 20,000 won.
“Up to 40% or 50% off” is not a uniform rate applied to every product; it is the maximum rate available under support conditions that vary by product and retailer.
Impact
Consumers planning their Chuseok shopping should first note that promotions for agricultural and livestock products and seafood begin on different dates. Those shopping at traditional markets should check which markets qualify for refunds and the applicable sector-specific limits from September 16–20.
The government will also monitor the supply and demand of essential goods alongside the discount support. A supply stabilization task force will operate from September 3–23, and prices for 35 items will be surveyed daily from September 10–23. As a result, participating retailers, inventory, and prices may change during implementation.
Next Checkpoints
Discount support for agricultural and livestock products is scheduled to begin on September 3, while seafood discounts are scheduled to begin on September 9. Onnuri gift certificate refunds at traditional markets will run from September 16–20. Before making a purchase, consumers should reconfirm participating retailers, eligible products, discount limits, and refund conditions.
Sources: Korea Policy Briefing (verified at 23:20 UTC on September 1, 2026) https://www.korea.kr/news/policyNewsView.do?newsId=148970987&pWise=main&pWiseMain=R5 Yonhap News Agency (verified at 23:20 UTC on September 1, 2026) https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260901069200002 YTN (verified at 23:20 UTC on September 1, 2026) https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0102_202609011115517142 Newsis (verified at 23:20 UTC on September 1, 2026) https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20260831_0003769876 Newspim (verified at 23:20 UTC on September 1, 2026) https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20260901000280