Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to run Onnuri gift voucher rebate event Wednesday through Sunday, special discount sale from June 17
Abalone, eel, mackerel among items covered; 56 retailers participating nationwide
South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will hold a series of seafood discount events to ease the burden of rising grocery prices driven by tensions in the Middle East.
The ministry announced Tuesday it will run a "Seafood Onnuri Gift Voucher Rebate Event" at 252 traditional markets nationwide from Wednesday through Sunday.
Shoppers who buy domestically caught seafood at participating markets can visit a rebate booth with their receipt and a mobile phone or ID to receive up to 20,000 won ($13) in Onnuri gift vouchers, depending on how much they spend.
Purchases of 34,000 won or more but under 67,000 won qualify for a 10,000-won voucher, while purchases of 67,000 won or more earn a 20,000-won voucher.
The ministry will then hold a "June Special Seafood Discount Sale" from June 17 through July 5 — a 19-day event at 56 retailers, including brick-and-mortar stores and online shopping platforms.
Consumers will be able to buy seafood at discounts of up to 50 percent during the sale.
Discounted items include major seafood staples such as pollock, mackerel, hairtail, squid, yellow croaker, dried anchovy and dried seaweed, as well as summer health-food favorites abalone and eel.
A total of 56 vendors will take part — 24 offline and 32 online.
"We will closely monitor price trends to prevent supply disruptions caused by the situation in the Middle East and high sea temperatures," Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo said. "We will mobilize every available policy tool to minimize the burden on household grocery bills."
adastra@heraldcorp.com
