South Korea Launches Largest-Ever 2025 Korea Grand Sale to Boost Tourism | Be Korea-savvy

South Korea Launches Largest-Ever 2025 Korea Grand Sale to Boost Tourism


The 2025 Korea Grand Sale (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

The 2025 Korea Grand Sale (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the Visit Korea Committee, announced on January 15 the launch of the 2025 Korea Grand Sale, the largest edition to date.

The event will run until February 28, aiming to attract foreign tourists during the off-peak winter season with extensive discounts and cultural experiences.

This year’s event features participation from over 1,680 companies across the airline, accommodation, retail, and food and beverage sectors, the highest number since the sale’s inception in 2011.

Major airlines, including Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, are offering up to 94% discounts on 214 international routes to South Korea. Additionally, Trip.com and Konest are collaborating with foreign airlines to provide up to 31% off flights from China, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Hotel promotions include up to 19% discounts at renowned establishments such as Ibis Styles Ambassador and Mayfield Hotel. Retail giants like Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai, and Galleria department stores, along with major duty-free stores and outlets, are offering shopping benefits, including vouchers worth up to 1 million KRW, shopping credits, and coupon books at key locations in Seoul and Busan.

 The photo shows the Korea Grand Sale Welcome Center. (Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

The photo shows the Korea Grand Sale Welcome Center. (Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

Fashion retailer Musinsa Standard is offering a 10% discount at 19 stores nationwide, while Olive Young provides a 20% discount on purchases over 150,000 KRW at five Myeongdong stores.

The festival also includes 17 K-content experiential programs across five regions, covering K-pop, food, beauty, cultural heritage, and local traditions. Newly introduced experiences include a Nongshim ramen factory tour, OnGoFood night dining tour, ESteem model experience class, and traditional accessory-making at Bukchon Traditional Craft Center.

Collaborations with service platforms have been enhanced. Kakao Mobility is offering a 3,000 KRW discount for foreign tourists using the K-Ride app. The WOWPASS prepaid card from Orange Square grants up to 5% cashback at brands like Olive Young, Daiso, and Innisfree. UnionPay users can enjoy an instant 10% discount at over 1,000 affiliated stores.

Naver Maps provides multilingual information (English, Japanese, Chinese) on store locations, directions, and benefits for participating venues in major shopping districts like Myeongdong.

Welcome Centers will operate in popular tourist hubs such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu, and Gangnam to greet first-time visitors and host on-site events.

The Korea Grand Sale will also be promoted in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) First Senior Officials’ Meeting, scheduled for February 24-28 at the HICO Convention Center in Gyeongju. The event will highlight local dining, lodging deals, and regional tourism products as part of the ’2025 Visit Gyeongbuk Year.’

Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran met with representatives from Naver, Korean Air, and Lotte Duty Free to encourage participating companies. She also visited Line Friends Square, Olive Young Myeongdong Town, and Shoemaker Myeongdong to inspect foreigner shopping services, including VAT refunds and luggage storage.

“I hope international tourists enjoy the abundant discounts and diverse K-culture attractions during the Korea Grand Sale,” said Vice Minister Jang. “This event will invigorate the inbound tourism market and boost domestic consumption, providing momentum for the tourism industry in 2025.”

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com) 

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