Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Youngju on Dec. 6, 2024, visits a booth at the opening event for K-Shopping Festa in the popular Hongik University area of Seoul's Mapo-gu District. (Ministry of SMEs and Startups)

By Kim Seon Ah

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups on April 28 announced its hosting of K-Shopping Festa from May 1-30 to boost nationwide consumption in the month, which is dubbed "Family Month" because of Children's Day and Parents Day.

About 24,000 small businesses will have their products displayed in 130 online and offline sale channels, backed by customer offers like discounts and prize giveaways. The main events include online sales, offline exhibitions, rebates good for Onnuri gift certificates usable at traditional markets and events with cooperation from the private sector.

Discounts of up to 30% will be offered on 40 online shopping malls such as Naver Shopping and Gmarket. Eight homeshopping channels will also hold specials.

Also offering deals are six stores that exclusively sell products from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at Incheon International Airport, such as Panpan Duty Free Shop and Happy Department Store. Discounts of 30%-50% will be offered on 1,000 of SME-made products.

Offline opening events will be simultaneously held in four cities: Sejong; Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province; Incheon; and Naju, Jeollanam-do Province. In addition, sales are scheduled at 18 provincial venues like Jeonju Weridan-gil (Wedding) Street in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province and Cheongju Seongan-gil Street in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province.

Payment via digital Onnuri vouchers at traditional markets or shopping alleys earns a 10% rebate, and users of such voucher are automatically entered in a lottery if their combined purchases over the event period is at least KRW 50,000. The 2,025 winners will receive digital gift certificates ranging in value from KRW 20,000 to KRW 2 million.

Seven credit card companies including BC and KB Kookmin will offer users of their cards 10% off on purchases of at least KRW 30,000 at traditional markets and longstanding SMEs. Major e-commerce giants such as Coupang, Kakao and Baemin will hold specials on products from small businesses.

"We hope K-Shopping Festa in May is an opportunity to widely promote outstanding products from small businesses," Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Youngju said. "We sincerely ask for high public participation in warm and happy shopping with our neighbors."

sofiakim218@korea.kr