The 2026 Korea Seafood Festa runs from October 28 to November 29. The South Korean government supports 20% of eligible seafood purchases, up to 10,000 won per person. When additional discounts offered by participating retailers are included, total savings can reach 50%. However, not every seafood product receives a 50% discount, and promotional dates and eligible products vary by retailer.
If you are buying salted shrimp or sea salt for kimjang, the traditional Korean practice of preparing and preserving kimchi for winter, or adding seafood such as mackerel and squid to your shopping cart, it is important to check the actual amount payable rather than focusing only on the advertised discount percentage.
What Is the Difference Between the 20% Government Discount and the Maximum 50% Discount?
The 20% government subsidy applies to eligible seafood purchases, while the advertised maximum 50% discount includes additional discounts offered by participating retailers.
South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is allocating 20 billion won to this promotion to help consumers purchase seafood.
The two discount rates can be understood as follows:
20% government subsidy: The government supports 20% of the purchase amount for eligible seafood products, with a maximum subsidy of 10,000 won per person.
Up to 50% off including retailer discounts: This is the maximum combined discount available through government support and additional discounts provided by participating retailers.
Actual discount rate: The discount applied to a purchase depends on the retailer, product, and specific promotional conditions.
For example, if a product qualifies only for the 20% government subsidy, the actual discount is 20%, regardless of promotional advertisements mentioning savings of up to 50%.
Conversely, products that qualify for additional retailer discounts may offer greater savings. However, retailers do not necessarily offer identical additional discount rates or apply combined discounts in the same way.
Therefore, the maximum discount advertised for the event should not be treated as the guaranteed discount on every product you purchase.
How Much Do You Need to Spend to Reach the 10,000-Won Subsidy Limit?
At a government subsidy rate of 20%, an eligible purchase amount of 50,000 won reaches the maximum subsidy of 10,000 won.
The calculation is straightforward:
Government subsidy = Eligible purchase amount × 20%
However, the subsidy is capped at 10,000 won per person.
The following examples assume that only the government subsidy applies, excluding any additional discounts offered by retailers.
| Eligible purchase amount | Government subsidy | Amount after subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 won | 2,000 won | 8,000 won |
| 20,000 won | 4,000 won | 16,000 won |
| 30,000 won | 6,000 won | 24,000 won |
| 50,000 won | 10,000 won | 40,000 won |
| 70,000 won | 10,000 won | 60,000 won |
*Author's calculation: These are simplified examples based on the 20% government subsidy rate and the 10,000-won maximum subsidy. Actual payment amounts may vary depending on retailer discounts, eligible purchase amounts, and coupon conditions.*
The important point is that an eligible purchase of 50,000 won reaches the 10,000-won government subsidy limit.
Even if the eligible purchase amount increases to 70,000 won, you cannot receive the full 14,000 won that would result from applying 20% without a cap. The government subsidy remains limited to 10,000 won.
Additionally, the per-person limit should not be interpreted as a new discount allowance automatically provided with every purchase. You must check the participating retailer's promotional terms to understand how many times the discount can be used and how the limit is managed.
Which Seafood Products and Kimjang Ingredients Qualify for Discounts?
The promotion covers not only ingredients used for kimjang, South Korea's traditional seasonal kimchi-making practice, but also commonly purchased seafood and certain farmed seafood products.
The main announced product categories include:
| Category | Main eligible products |
|---|---|
| Kimjang ingredients | Salted shrimp, sea salt, anchovy fish sauce, oysters |
| General seafood | Mackerel, squid, hairtail fish, dried anchovies, dried seaweed sheets (gim) |
| Farmed seafood | Whiteleg shrimp, freshwater eel, abalone |
Consumers planning to purchase salted shrimp and anchovy fish sauce together for kimjang, or buying mackerel and squid during their regular grocery shopping, can look for eligible promotional products.
However, being included in one of these product categories does not automatically make every brand, package size, or packaged product eligible for a discount.
For example, even if a product is salted shrimp, you still need to confirm that the retailer has designated it as a promotional item. If regular-priced and promotional products are displayed together, compare the discount labels on the price tags or product detail pages.
Which Supermarkets Are Participating, and Are Online Discounts Available?
A total of 56 retailers are participating in the 2026 Korea Seafood Festa, including 24 offline retailers and 32 online retailers.
The promotion is available through supermarkets across South Korea as well as online shopping platforms, allowing consumers to choose a purchasing method that suits them.
However, all 56 retailers do not necessarily discount the same products throughout the entire promotional period. Each retailer operates its own detailed schedule and determines which products qualify.
The official place to check participating retailers and promotional products is the Korea Seafood Grand Sale website, the official information portal for South Korea's seafood discount campaigns.
Follow these steps:
1. Visit the official Korea Seafood Grand Sale website.
2. Check the participating retailers and promotional schedules for the Korea Seafood Festa.
3. Find out whether the seafood you want to buy qualifies for a discount at your preferred supermarket or online store.
4. Review the product-specific discount labels and coupon conditions.
5. Immediately before payment, confirm the final amount after the government subsidy and retailer discounts have been applied.
When shopping online, the discount percentage shown on a product detail page may differ from the discount amount displayed at checkout. It is therefore advisable to review the final payment screen.
At physical stores, consumers should also check the store's promotional notices and individual product discount labels rather than assuming that all seafood products qualify.
Do Seafood Discounts End on November 15 When the Korea Grand Festival Ends?
No. The announced closing date for the Korea Seafood Festa is November 29.
Although this seafood discount campaign is connected to the Korea Grand Festival, a nationwide consumption-promotion initiative involving multiple South Korean government ministries, the two events have different overall operating periods.
| Event | Overall promotional period |
|---|---|
| Korea Grand Festival | October 29–November 15 |
| Korea Seafood Festa | October 28–November 29 |
Therefore, the conclusion of the Korea Grand Festival on November 15 does not mean that the seafood discount campaign also ends that day.
However, the overall Korea Seafood Festa closing date of November 29 must be distinguished from the individual discount deadlines set by participating retailers.
If you plan to purchase discounted seafood from a particular online store, prioritize the promotional dates announced by that retailer rather than relying solely on the overall event period.
What Should You Check Before Payment to Know Your Actual Savings?
The actual discount should be determined by the product-specific eligibility conditions and final payment amount, not by the government subsidy rate alone.
For example, if the same seafood product is available from two different retailers, comparing the final amount payable is more practical than simply choosing the retailer advertising the higher discount percentage.
There are four main things to check:
Whether the product you intend to purchase is eligible for the promotional discount.
Whether you are purchasing it during the participating retailer's promotional period.
How the government subsidy limit and additional retailer discount conditions apply.
The final amount payable after all applicable coupons and discounts have been applied.
In particular, if you assume that the advertised maximum 50% discount means every purchase will automatically cost half its original price, you may encounter a different amount at checkout.
If you plan to buy kimjang ingredients in bulk, first decide which products you need, then compare eligible promotional items and final prices across participating retailers.
The most important thing to understand about the 2026 Korea Seafood Festa is the distinction between the 20% government subsidy, the 10,000-won subsidy limit, additional retailer discounts, and each retailer's promotional period.
Before shopping, check the participating retailer's schedule and eligible products through the official Korea Seafood Grand Sale website. This will help you understand the applicable discount conditions more accurately.
