Convenience Stores Near the Hangang River See Another Fireworks-Driven Sales Boom as Visitors Arrive from the Pre-Festival Event

[Financial News] Convenience stores around the Hangang River once again enjoyed a festival-driven sales boom as crowds gathered to watch the Seoul International Fireworks Festival this year. Sales of products for extended outdoor stays—from ready-to-eat foods such as lunch boxes and instant noodles to beer, bottled water, ice, and portable chargers—surged.
According to industry sources on the 6th, major convenience stores in Yeouido, Yongsan District, and Banpo-dong, where the Seoul International Fireworks Festival was held on the 5th, posted sharp sales increases. Unlike last year, this year’s event included a pre-festival event, drawing customers to related stores from the day before the festival.
CU saw a sharp increase in food sales at stores near the event venues. According to BGF Retail, some CU stores near Yeouido, Yongsan District, and Banpo-dong recorded sales increases of up to 16 times compared with the previous week on the 5th. Customer numbers at stores near Yeouido Hangang Park and Ichon Hangang Park reportedly rose as much as 120 times the previous week at one point.
By product category, lunch box sales posted the largest increase, rising 579.3 times. Sales of hot bars rose 55.9 times, gimbap 52.1 times, instant noodles 42.6 times, sandwiches 37.8 times, and triangular gimbap 25.3 times. Cup ice sales increased 110.2 times, bottled water 71.1 times, carbonated drinks 42.6 times, and beer 36.8 times.
Even on the 4th, when the pre-festival event was held, sales at related stores increased by up to six times from a week earlier. Beer sales rose 32 times, lunch boxes 26 times, and hygiene products 19 times.
GS25 also fully benefited from the fireworks festival boom. An analysis by GS Retail of seven stores in areas affected by the festival, including Yeouido and Ichon-dong, found that one store recorded sales up to 6.7 times higher on the 5th than a week earlier. All seven stores posted their highest daily sales of the year. Sales of ready-to-eat foods, including Go Pizza and dakgangjeong, jumped 192 times, while roasted sweet potatoes rose 45 times and sports drinks 38 times.
7-Eleven also saw sales increase at about 20 stores near Yeouido Hangang Park. Some stores recorded sales 15 times higher than the previous week. Sales of outdoor viewing items, such as picnic mats and knee blankets, rose 52 times compared with the same day of the week the previous week, while ready-to-eat foods such as roasted sweet potatoes and chicken increased 26 times. Sales of insect repellents also rose by about 17 times.

emart24 began preparing inventory and operations ahead of the event, focusing on stores and temporary outlets near the Hangang River. As a result, sales at emart24 stores near Yeouido on the 5th increased by about 950%, or 10 times, compared with August 29, the same day of the week the previous week. Beer sales posted the largest increase, rising about 35 times. As visitors stayed outdoors for long periods to secure a prime fireworks-viewing spot, sales of wet wipes rose 48 times and phone batteries 23 times.
An emart24 official said, "On the day of the festival, we installed two tents in front of the Hangang Paradise store and additionally operated a temporary store equipped with 12 ice boxes and six hot-water dispensers for instant noodles." The official added, "Because the festival was held about 20 days earlier than last year, we also prepared for increased demand for beverages and alcoholic drinks."

[email protected] Hyunji Kim Reporter