A banner hawking a discount event on Oct. 29, 2025, hangs at a large supermarket in Seoul on the same day of the launch of the Korea Grand Festival, which is dubbed the country's version of Black Friday. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

The second Korea Grand Festival opening on Oct. 29 will dangle discounts of up to 50% for items like hanwoo (premium domestic beef) and seafood through Nov. 15.

This year's event will also expand benefits from provincial gift certificates.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced this on Oct. 27.

This nationwide extravaganza integrates consumer promotion events each of which were run by a separate ministry like the Donghaeng Festival, the nation's largest event for small and medium enterprises and micro-businesses, and K-Sale Festa, which features major retailers, manufacturers and traditional markets.

With the approach of kimjang, or the process and culture of making kimchi, around 300 retailers nationwide like supermarkets and provincial agricultural cooperatives from Oct. 29 to Dec. 2 will offer up to 40% off on key kimchi ingredients such as cabbage, radish, chili peppers, garlic and ginger.

Through Nov. 8, retailers nationwide are selling hanwoo at up to half off. Seafood products such as gim (dried seaweed), saeujeot (salted shrimp) and cheonilyeom (sun-dried sea salt) through Nov. 29 are discounted up to 50% at supermarkets nationwide and on public home shopping channels.

The country's five automakers -- Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp., GM Korea, Renault Korea and KG Mobility -- as well as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics from Nov. 1 will launch a discount campaign.

Hyper and super supermarkets offer up to 50% off on agricultural, livestock and seafood products, processed foods and household goods, along with events of buy one, get one free.

Benefits from provincial gift certificates will also be expanded to stimulate provincial economies. The discount for them are up an additional five percentage points thanks to higher government funding, with that for online Onnuri certificates to rise from 7% to 10% from Nov. 2-6.

A "win-win" consumption lottery for users of Onnuri through Nov. 15 will give 5,600 winners a combined KRW 1.7 billion in prize money. An Onnuri certificate is a government-issued voucher to stimulate spending at traditional markets and small businesses.

Other discounts and free admission to historical landmarks are also available. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 15, the four palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty will charge no entry fees except Biwon (Secret Garden) at Changdeokgung.

The National Orchestra of Korea on Nov. 14 will also hold a free concert at the National Theater of Korea.

Twenty-five duty-free shops nationwide -- both offline and online -- offer up to 25% off on products such as alcoholic beverages and cosmetics during K-Online Shopping Week (Oct. 29-Nov. 15). Participating brands like Olive Young, Musinsa and Kurly will hold joint promotions targeting foreign consumers in beauty, fashion and food.

jihlee08@korea.kr