Korea to waive highway tolls during this week’s Chuseok holiday

The Chuseok holiday food delivery market in Korea is experiencing a boom as demand for traditional holiday dishes surges on delivery platforms, according to Woowa Brothers, the operator of the country's leading food delivery app, Baedal Minjok (Baemin). On the first day of Chuseok, delivery orders for songpyeon, traditional Korean rice cakes, increased four and a half times compared to the same day last year.

This trend is indicative of consumers' preference for convenience, leading them to opt for ready-to-eat meals rather than preparing individual dishes over the holiday period.

Other popular holiday food items also saw significant increases in demand. Modumjeon, or assorted Korean pancakes, saw an unprecedented 270 percent jump in orders, while namul, seasoned vegetable dishes, rose by 135 percent. Braised beef ribs, known as galbijjim, and traditional Korean sweets such as yakgwa and hangwa experienced growth rates of 39 percent and 44 percent respectively.

The soaring demand for these items can be attributed to the convenience that delivery services provide. Instead of preparing meals spread out over the holiday, many consumers are now choosing to order ready-to-eat dishes, making it easier for them to adhere to their holiday traditions without the hassle of cooking.