CreatripTeam

Korean retailers are ramping up promotions for kimjang (traditional Korean year-end kimchi-making). Major supermarkets began preorders for salted cabbage (jeolim baechu) between late October and December, offering increased supply after strong demand; eMart doubled its initial allotment to 80,000 boxes (about 20 kg, ~10 heads per box) and introduced a premium “golden” salted cabbage. Lotte Mart and Homeplus also run staggered preorder programs and bundled kits with seasonings; oysters, a common kimchi accompaniment, are on discount too. Appliances are promoted alongside ingredients: Lotte Hi-Mart is discounting Samsung and LG kimchi refrigerators (kimchi fridges) across 310 stores through month-end, with bundle savings when buying rice cookers. Retailers note kimjang is a reliable sales season, and with cabbage prices down about 24.6% year-on-year, consumers may make more kimchi than last year.