'The Biggest CSAT Boom' Was Surprisingly This... Food and Dining Industries See a Brief Surge

[Financial News] Around the time of the 2026 CSAT, the food and dining industries, which ran a variety of promotions for test-takers, are enjoying a significant sales boost. However, due to ongoing domestic market instability, expectations for a year-end sales boom remain low.
According to industry sources on the 20th, since last month, food and dining companies offering discounts and other promotions for CSAT test-takers have seen their sales surge by up to 100%. Some products have even sold out completely.
A prime beneficiary of the CSAT season is Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC). For example, KGC's I-Pass Energy Shot saw its sales more than double in the month before the CSAT. Launched in December last year, the I-Pass Energy Shot is designed for students who need to manage their stamina and concentration, and features a blend of red ginseng concentrate and five types of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, and biotin).
From November 13 to 31, KGC offered the XENO Suneung Mechanical Pencil, wishing good luck on the CSAT and college admissions, to customers who purchased the I-Pass Energy Shot. KGC plans to continue its CSAT promotions for the time being. For students, KGC is also holding free home game events for the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters basketball team and the Daejeon CheongKwanJang Red Sparks Pro Volleyball Club. A KGC representative stated, "Students who have taken the CSAT can receive free tickets at the stadium box office by presenting their test slip or student ID."
Starbucks' Clover Sand Cookie, reintroduced for this year's CSAT season, sold out for the second year in a row. Students who present their test slip receive a 30% discount, and special items like the Four-Leaf Clover Tumbler are also being sold through various channels, gaining popularity. A representative from Starbucks Coffee Korea said, "Due to its popularity last CSAT season, we brought back the Clover Sand Cookie, and this year it sold out in less than a month."
Outback Steakhouse offered its Aussie Cheese Fries, valued at 12,000 won, to CSAT test-takers, resulting in a 32.0% increase in sales on the day of the test compared to the previous week. BHC Chicken saw its sales rise by 45.9% on the test day and by 13.6% over the weekend during CSAT week. Baskin Robbins' Half Gallon menu item experienced a 76.4% year-on-year increase in sales during the CSAT season. A Baskin Robbins representative commented, "We plan to continue launching promotions to support students in the future."
While the food and dining industries are enjoying the CSAT boom, expectations for a year-end sales surge remain subdued. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT)'s Food Industry Business Survey, the food industry business outlook index for the fourth quarter this year was 99.3, down 0.8 points from the previous quarter's 100.1.
The main reason for the negative outlook is a decline in consumption due to sluggish domestic demand, accounting for 45.4%. Environmental factors such as raw material yields, climate, and weather made up 15.3%, while seasonal factors like events and school vacations accounted for 11.6%.
An industry insider noted, "Promotions aimed at extending the CSAT boom are likely to continue for some time amid weak domestic demand. However, it remains uncertain whether this trend will carry over into the year-end season due to subdued consumer sentiment."
[email protected] Kim Seo-yeon, Park Kyung-ho Reporter