Korea's September retail sales rise 4.5 percent as early Chuseok lifts food demand

South Korea's major retailers booked 4.5 percent more sales in September than a year earlier, the industry ministry said Wednesday, as an unusually early Chuseok holiday pushed gift sets and holiday food into the month.

Offline sales rose 5.1 percent and online sales 4.0 percent, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, citing a survey of 15 offline and 11 online retailers. The Chuseok holiday ran from Sept. 24 to 27 this year, having fallen on Oct. 3-9 in 2025, concentrating demand for gift sets and ritual foods into September.

Food led the gains, rising 6.3 percent, while services and other categories, including grocery delivery, climbed 7.3 percent.

Every offline format posted growth. Department stores led with an 8.4 percent increase, followed by large discount stores at 4.0 percent, smaller supermarket chains at 5.0 percent and convenience stores at 2.9 percent.

At discount stores, food rose 4.3 percent and home appliances and toys 5.8 percent, while clothing jumped 11.2 percent, marking a second consecutive month of growth. The number of purchases edged up 0.5 percent, breaking a six-month decline.

Department stores drew shoppers buying holiday gift sets and autumn clothes, with food sales up 13.0 percent, women's casual wear 15.2 percent and menswear 8.7 percent. Convenience stores benefited from more single-person households buying ready meals during the holiday, lifting processed food sales 5.9 percent, and smaller supermarkets saw food sales rise on demand for ritual goods, led by a 10.0 percent gain in agricultural and fisheries products.

Online, food sales advanced 6.7 percent and services and other categories, which include food delivery, travel and culture products and e-coupons, rose 10.6 percent as more shoppers used grocery delivery.

Online retailers accounted for 59.5 percent of September sales, followed by convenience stores at 14.9 percent, department stores at 14.4 percent, discount stores at 9.1 percent and smaller supermarkets at 2.1 percent.