‘Korea Grand Festival’ officially opens in Andong... Consumption Promotion

40,000 companies nationwide participated... Provide benefits such as discounts and gift certificate refunds

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Koo Jeong-mo = The Ministry of SMEs and Startups began to promote consumption in earnest by holding the official opening ceremony of the '2nd Korea Grand Festival', a nationwide consumption festival, in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do on the 31st.

The Korea Grand Festival is a national consumption festival that integrates consumption events by government ministries to revitalize domestic demand and promote local consumption. It will be held nationwide for 18 days from the 29th to the 15th of next month.

This year, 10 ministries and approximately 40,000 companies will provide various consumption benefits through online and offline discount events.

In particular, this opening ceremony was held for the first time in Andong, which was selected through a nationwide public contest.

The Jjimdak Festival was held at Andong-gu Market near the old Andong Station, where the opening ceremony was held, and night markets, food and experience events, and prize events were held at Jungang New Market and Yongsang Market.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups introduced that it also operated the Paldo Tourist Train connecting the opening ceremony and major tourist attractions in Andong to encourage tourists to visit the region and use the commercial district.

The opening ceremony was attended by major figures such as Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee So-young, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyeong-dong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Economic Vice Governor Yang Geum-hee, Andong City Vice Mayor Lee Chi-heon, and about 2,000 local residents and tourists.

Prior to the opening ceremony, key figures, including Prime Minister Han, visited a nearby store to sample Andong's representative food, steamed chicken, purchase goods, and encourage small business owners.

At the 'Sangsaeng Concert' held following the opening ceremony, trot singers Song Ga-in and Lee Chan-won, Beatfella House, Hitzies, and Candy Shop performed.

During this event period, various consumption benefits will be provided, including discount events on nationwide online and offline distribution channels, additional discounts on local love gift certificates, increased discount rates on digital Onnuri gift certificates, and a win-win consumption lottery.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to develop the event into a global festival in which foreign tourists and overseas consumers can also participate.

The State Council members decided to continue visiting local sites until the end of the event in order to spread the atmosphere of promoting consumption nationwide.