South Korea's convenience store chains have kicked off full-scale sales of gift sets ahead of Chuseok, the country's autumn harvest holiday, which falls next month. The stores are courting shoppers with an unusually wide range of products — from goods based on intellectual property (IP) to massage chairs, robots and gold — aimed at consumers' tastes and lifestyles.
CU said on the 18th that it had prepared some 710 Chuseok products. The chain first unveiled gift sets built around Pokemon IP, which is popular across all age groups. The lineup comprises 20 items in total, including fruit and beverage sets along with nine types of toys, three types of camping gear and five types of golf equipment. CU has also stocked premium food such as fruit, Korean beef and seafood, alongside 10 types of massage chairs, recliners and compact massagers. It is selling six types of robots as well, including a bipedal humanoid robot, a companion-dog robot and an artificial intelligence (AI) Go-playing robot. To meet demand for gold as an investment, CU is also offering 12 types of pure-gold products developed with Samsung Gold Exchange and MiniGold.
GS25, operated by GS Retail, is selling some 600 holiday gift sets under the theme "2026 Neighborhood Gift Shop" from the 18th through the 26th of next month. It has prepared a range of home appliances and household goods, including a humanoid robot, an AI conversational robot keyring and food-waste disposers. Reflecting rising interest in running and health management, GS25 is also offering Garmin smartwatches.
For this Chuseok, GS25 has also prepared 15 gold and silver products. Signature items include a "3.1g Ahn Jung-geun Gold Medal" and a "20g Lee Jung-seob Silver Medal" featuring the artist's silver-foil drawings. The chain is offering premium wines and whiskeys as GS25-exclusive items, such as a "Five Chateaux 2016 Vintage Set," "Chateau Mouton Rothschild," "The Nikka Limited" and "Dewar's Double Double 36 Years." Reflecting a simplified holiday culture, it has also prepared value-focused food such as assorted pan-fried items, dumplings, pork cutlets, tteok-galbi (grilled short-rib patties), handmade ham and kimchi.
An official in the convenience store industry said, "More customers are now choosing holiday gifts that combine practicality and a special touch, taking into account the tastes and lifestyles of family and acquaintances."
7-Eleven is selling some 600 Chuseok gift products reflecting premium, customized, practical and health trends through October 2. Notably, it is holding a "Thanks Seven Day" promotion of exclusive merchandise based on Hello Kitty IP, offering items such as a magnetic card wallet. It is also selling premium food developed with Lotte Hotel, including a "Lotte Hotel Gold Chocolate Cake."
Emart24 is selling Chuseok gift products with a greatly expanded selection of fresh food, reflecting a trend of grocery shopping at convenience stores, from the 18th of this month through the 18th of next month. It has also broadened its range to include liquor and unusual gifts. The chain has prepared 48 liquor products, centered on the spirits and wine that are in high demand as holiday gifts, and is offering unusual items such as gold bars.
