The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 12th that it held the opening ceremony for the "April companion festival" at Jeonju Indoor Gymnasium on the 11th and began a nationwide consumer-promotion event.
The companion festival will run nationwide for 30 days through May 10, with about 200 online and offline distribution channels participating in a large-scale consumer-boosting event.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, heads of small business groups, and retail company officials attended the opening ceremony. In consideration of the Middle East war situation, the opening ceremony was streamlined.
In connection with the opening ceremony, an opening sales fair featuring outstanding small business owners from across the country and companies from the North Jeolla region was held for two days from the 11th along Alrimui Street at Jeonbuk National University and the Daehak-ro shopping district. The venue offered food and experience programs, drawing steady foot traffic from residents and tourists.
Most of the roughly 3,000 seats at the win-win concert were filled, with MeloMance, Kim Yeon-woo, and Sohyang taking the stage.
During the companion festival, more than 90 online platforms including Naver, Kakao, Gmarket, and Kurly will hold discount events for about 18,000 small business products in K-beauty, fashion, food, and more.
Among them, 300 flagship products will be sold at discounts of up to 70% through Naver's "Companion 300 special exhibition."
Public Home Shopping and Home&Shopping will also run broadcast sales promotions tied to Family Month.
Region-linked events will also continue across the country. In the Bupyeong Renaissance commercial district in Incheon, the "Bupyeong Black Day" event will run from the 17th to the 26th, and in Daegu, a craft burger festival will be held for two days from May 1. During the same period at Starfield Anseong, a small business flea market and cultural performances are scheduled.
During the companion festival, the clothing discount event "Giving Plus" will be held twice, offering discounts of up to 90%, and part of the sales revenue will be used to support the self-reliance of vulnerable groups.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "We hope consumption will serve as an opportunity to invigorate local economies," adding, "We will make sure the companion festival leads to nationwide consumer activation."