Although damage from purchases of Chuseok ritual offerings repeats every year, the consumer relief rate has been found to be under 5%. The government is rolling out livelihood measures focused on expanding supplies of holiday staples, but consumer rights protection remains in a blind spot, prompting criticism that practical relief measures are needed.
According to data submitted by People Power Party lawmaker Chu Kyung-ho, a member of the National Policy Committee, from the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA), the number of consumer counseling cases related to ritual offerings over the past three years (2023 to Aug. 2025) totaled 5,644. However, only 270 cases (4.78%) led to actual relief.
By year: ▲ 92 out of 1,813 cases (5.1%) in 2023 ▲ 130 out of 2,655 cases (4.9%) in 2024 ▲ 48 out of 1,176 cases (4.1%) in 2025 (January to August). While applications for relief increased each year, the relief rate showed a declining trend.
By type of damage, quality and after-sales service complaints were the most common at 2,435 cases (43%). Contract nonperformance followed with 2,198 cases (39%), and false or exaggerated advertising with 328 cases (5.8%). By item, fruits (2,370 cases) accounted for nearly half, followed by meat (1,613 cases), seafood (496 cases), and rice (448 cases).
Ahead of this Chuseok holiday, the government announced "Chuseok livelihood stabilization measures," saying it would supply 172,000 tons of 21 major holiday staples, including apples, pears, and napa cabbage, to the market. However, critics note that simply increasing volumes will not easily reduce the burden on consumers. Because the ritual offerings market includes many small-scale distributors and online sellers seeking holiday windfalls, securing relief for consumers is not easy. In addition, with food prices for agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products, processed foods, and dining out continuing to soar, consumers' perceived burden can only grow, the lawmaker's office said.
Chu Kyung-ho said, "Cases of damage related to ritual offerings are repeating every year ahead of the holidays," adding, "The government should not stop at increasing the supply of holiday staples but prepare practical measures that can reduce consumer harm."