Gift Trends This Chuseok

Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving is a time for rejoicing, but it also brings headaches, from traffic jams to the pain of choosing the right presents for family and friends. Here, the Chosun Ilbo takes a look at the trends in gift-giving as this year's holiday approaches.

Health and Wellness

Anti-aging cosmetics products are among the most popular gifts for the no-longer young. As the hefty price tag for anti-wrinkle products make it difficult for retirees to buy them for themselves, they are much sought-after as presents. Health supplements are also popular. For men, baldness-related products are also a good choice as hair loss has become a problem for men of all ages due to the stress of modern life.

With all such products, it is a good idea to buy the brand parents prefer rather than simply picking a well-known brand.

Traditional Gifts on the Way Out

Fruit hampers used to be among the most popular gifts for Chuseok, but that does not seem to be the case this year. Fruit prices have risen steeply because of the heavy rains this summer, which affected production and quality. The price of yellow corbinas is expected to rise by at least 10 percent as its production fell and sea salt became scarce due to the earthquakes in Japan.

Wine, on the other hand, is a newly popular choice. French, Italian and Spanish wines have benefited from price cuts thanks to the Korea-EU free-trade agreement, so they are a perfect classy present for Chuseok.

Bargain Hunting

The biggest trends this year are online shopping and low and mid-range prices. According to an online poll by CJONmart on its members, more than half of respondents replied that they would buy gifts online, and 51 percent said they would spend between W20,000 and W50,000 on gifts (US$1=W1,070). Online shopping scored high for convenience.