SEOUL, South Korea—The National Hanwoo Association has announced large-scale nationwide events to celebrate 'Hanwoo Day' (Korean Beef Day) on November 1st, marking the occasion with the "A Day for Korea to Eat Hanwoo" festival. This annual celebration, initiated in 2008, commemorates Hanwoo as a symbol of national pride and cultural heritage, a sentiment captured by the date: November 1st, where the number one (1) is tripled to signify "best," "first," and "supreme."
The core festivities and major discount sales are set to take place at a special event hall in front of the Seoul Hanaro Mart Yangjae Branch for three days, running from October 31st to November 2nd.
Major Event Highlights and Promotions
The festival is designed to draw public engagement with a variety of interactive events and significant beef discounts:
Premium Prize Draw: A raffle will be held to award three winners with three don (3.75g) of gold.
Limited-Time Sales: Hanwoo stew cuts will be available for a special limited-quantity, first-come, first-served price of 1,800 KRW per 100g.
Interactive Events: Activities include a Hanwoo set auction, a Hanwoo-themed O/X quiz, and the "So-Prize Hanwoo Lotto."
Culinary Experience: Free tasting of Hanwoo bulgogi (marinated beef) and neobiani (grilled sliced beef) will be offered to attendees.
Opening Ceremony Specials: The opening ceremony will feature a generous distribution of 300 servings of Hanwoo gomtang (beef bone soup) and a live cooking show led by National Hanwoo Association ambassador, Chef Cha Min-wook. Direct, on-site discount sales will also be running.
Participating retailers at the special Yangjae event include major agricultural cooperatives and beef distributors such as Mujinjang Livestock Cooperative Logistics Center, Gyeongsan Livestock Cooperative, Uiseong Livestock Cooperative Meat Center, Yeongpoong Livestock Agricultural Cooperative Corporation, Andong Bonghwa Livestock Cooperative Hanaro Mart, Shinseon P&F, and Hanaro Mart Yangjae Branch.
Nationwide Discount Efforts
Beyond the main venue, significant discount promotions are scheduled across key on- and offline retail channels nationwide, reflecting a broader industry-wide effort. Further supplementing these efforts, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is spearheading the "So-Prize 2025 Korea Hanwoo Sale," offering 30% to 50% discounts on Hanwoo beef from October 28th to November 10th. This extended promotional period covers 630 Hanaro Mart locations, major supermarkets, and leading online malls, a move intended to stabilize consumer prices and boost consumption.
The discounted items encompass popular cuts across various grades, including sirloin, brisket, bulgogi cuts, and soup cuts. For instance, Grade 1 beef is priced at approximately 7,950 KRW for sirloin (per 100g) and under 3,000 KRW for bulgogi and soup cuts, representing a 20% to 30% reduction from typical consumer prices.
Min Gyeong-cheon, President of the National Hanwoo Association, emphasized the core mission of the celebration, stating, “'A Day for Korea to Eat Hanwoo' on November 1st is a heartfelt appreciation festival from Hanwoo farmers, hoping that all 50 million citizens can fill their day with the enjoyment of Hanwoo. We encourage everyone to join the celebration and continue their support for Korean beef.”
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