Convenience store sales around Gwanghwamun Square, where a BTS concert was held, surged by up to five times.
CU, operated by BGF Retail, said on the 22nd that sales at major stores around Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st jumped more than fivefold from a week earlier (on the 14th). Sales at 10 stores near Gwanghwamun rose 270.9%, and sales at three boulevard-side stores closest to the venue climbed 547.8%.
Beverage demand stood out in particular. By category, bottled water rose 831.4%, ice cream 813.4%, processed milk 508.4%, coffee 460.8%, tea drinks 436.6%, sports ion drinks 396.9%, and carbonated drinks 285.9%, showing broad-based gains.
Sales of convenient foods also jumped. Kimbap rose 1,380.4%, sandwiches 1,146.7%, triangular kimbap 884.3%, and bread 412.4%, while yogurt increased 639.7%, sausages 533.3%, biscuits and cookies 515.4%, snacks 311.9%, ice cream 311.0%, and chocolate 250.2%.
At CU's Gwanghwamun convenience stores, the top-selling items were BTS albums, which took the top four spots. No. 5 was 3A batteries (pack of 4), reflecting demand for light sticks. Also among the top sellers were Montbest bottled water, C-type phone cables, tuna kimbap, banana-flavored milk, and tuna-mayo triangular kimbap.
During the same period, sales at GS25 stores near Gwanghwamun operated by GS Retail also increased 233.1%. Sales at the stores most closely linked to movement to the venue rose as much as 378.4%. Demand grew for convenience foods such as kimbap (379.1%), rice balls (290.0%), sandwiches (309.0%), and bread (560.7%), as well as for beverages and snacks including bottled water (541.8%), coffee drinks (255.5%), snacks (333.5%), and milk (240.6%).
E-MART 24 also saw sales at 36 stores across Gwanghwamun and Jongno rise 39%. By category, battery sales posted the highest growth at 400%. Wet wipes (260%), beer (180%), ramen (160%), side dishes for drinks (130%), and phone chargers and cables (120%) followed.