In brief
South Korea's combined revenue from 26 major retailers increased 4.5% in September. Offline sales climbed 5.1%, online sales rose 4.0%, with notable gains in hypermarkets, department stores, convenience stores, and online grocery and services sectors.
South Korea’s retail sales grew 4.5 percent in September, a figure reported by Xinhua on October 28, 2026. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources supplied the data, showing that the combined revenue of 26 major retailers—15 offline and 11 online—rose from a year earlier. The rise is attributed to shopping for the early‑year Chuseok holidays, the South Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving Day, which fell in late September this year compared to early October the previous year.
Xinhua notes that the timing of the Chuseok holidays led to robust sales of holiday gift sets and traditional holiday food. Offline retail sales mounted 5.1 percent year‑on‑year, while online retailers saw a 4.0 percent increase.
Holiday Timing Impact
Because the Chuseok holidays occurred earlier than usual, shoppers had more time to purchase holiday gifts and food before the public holidays. Xinhua states that this earlier schedule contributed to the overall lift in both offline and online retail activity.
Offline Retail Performance
Offline retail sales rose 5.1 percent, driven by gains in several formats. Hypermarkets posted revenue growth for a second consecutive month, citing high demand for holiday groceries, home appliances, toys for gifts, and apparel. Department stores capitalized on Chuseok gift set sales, which pushed up food revenue by 13.0 percent. They also saw increases in autumn fashion categories: women's casual wear rose 15.2 percent, and men's clothing increased 8.7 percent.
Convenience stores logged a 5.9 percent gain in processed food sales, catering to single‑person households looking for ready‑to‑eat meals during the holidays.
Online Retail Performance
Online retail sales benefited from the holiday surge as well. Grocery purchases in cyberspace climbed 6.7 percent. Online demand for services—including food delivery, travel, cultural products, and e‑coupon purchase—increased 10.6 percent, as more consumers utilized digital grocery services.
In addition to grocery and services, online sales of gift sets, groceries, and apparel contributed to the overall 4.0 percent rise reported for the month.
Overall Sales Mix
Across the 26 major retailers examined by the ministry, the 4.5 percent growth reflects a balanced mix of offline and online sales contributions. Offline activity alone accounted for a larger share of the increase, but online platforms also saw significant upticks in both product and service categories.
These figures indicate that the early timing of the Chuseok holidays positively influenced consumer spending patterns across multiple retail channels.
