▲ Shoppers crowd a local department store in Seoul in this Yonhap file photo. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- Despite this year's Chuseok holiday being shorter than last year's, sales at department stores and outlet malls rose around 20 percent, as consumers flocked to nearby shopping and leisure destinations.

Last year, spending was spread across various destinations, including overseas travel, during a seven-day holiday stretching from National Foundation Day to Hangeul Day. This year, however, the four-day Chuseok holiday concentrated demand for shopping and outings at offline retail channels relatively close to consumers' homes.

According to industry data Tuesday, Lotte Department Store's sales during the Sept. 24-27 Chuseok holiday rose about 20 percent from Oct. 5-8 last year, covering the day before Chuseok through two days after the holiday. The number of customers increased 15 percent.

By category, kids' products saw sales rise 25 percent, while food and beverage (F&B) sales increased 20 percent amid stronger demand for dining out.

Beauty and leisure and golf products each posted 20 percent growth as gift demand continued before and after Chuseok.

Shinsegae Department Store and Hyundai Department Store also posted sales increases of 21.6 percent and 20.3 percent, respectively.

At Shinsegae, the number of purchasing customers rose 14 percent and average spending per customer increased about 5 percent. Sales of luxury jewelry jumped 73 percent, while luxury watches, large home appliances, and living and bedding products increased 50.7 percent, 50.2 percent and 45.1 percent, respectively.

Sales of children's products and F&B also rose 24.3 percent and 21.5 percent, respectively.

At Hyundai Department Store, luxury jewelry sales increased 45.6 percent, while young fashion and sports products grew 31.8 percent and 20.9 percent, respectively.

Given the shorter holiday compared with last year, industry officials attributed the sales growth at department stores not simply to seasonal demand but also to concentrated shopping and leisure spending by people staying in Korea.

Shopping malls and suburban outlet stores also performed well.

Sales at Lotte's outlets and malls rose 5 percent, helped by an increase in family visitors. Kids' product sales rose 15 percent, while F&B sales increased more than 10 percent.

Lotte World Mall in Jamsil drew about 750,000 visitors during the Chuseok holiday, about 10,000 more than during the corresponding period around Chuseok last year.

Sales at Hyundai Department Store's four premium outlets rose 22 percent from last year's Chuseok holiday, led by increases in sports products, traditional casual wear (TD) and luxury goods of 55 percent, 38 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The number of visitors also increased 11 percent.

At all Shinsegae Simon premium outlets, the number of cars entering the facilities during the three-day period around the holiday, including Chuseok Day, from Sept. 24-26, rose more than 17 percent from the same period last year. TD and F&B sales posted double-digit growth.

Meanwhile, large discount stores saw increased demand for holiday foods and ready-to-eat meals.

E-Mart said sales rose 9.6 percent when comparing Chuseok Day and the three days before and after the holiday this year with the corresponding period last year.

Sales increased across most categories, including fruits (18.7 percent), vegetables (15.2 percent), meat (14.9 percent), seafood (21.7 percent), deli foods (16.3 percent), alcoholic beverages (10.4 percent) and ready-to-eat meals (8.2 percent).

Sales of ready-to-eat sashimi rose 51.6 percent, sushi products 23.5 percent and frozen fish 28.5 percent, indicating strong demand for convenient meals.

Lotte Mart's average daily sales during the Chuseok holiday rose 3 percent from the same period last year.

As more consumers opted for convenient meals at home, sales of refrigerated home meal replacement (HMR) products increased 31 percent and frozen HMR products 15 percent.

Demand for food and beverages for watching Asian Games events also boosted sales, with frozen snacks rising 30 percent and domestic beer and snacks increasing 5 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

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