CU to sell souvenir snack set for foreign tourists

South Korean convenience store chain CU next month will launch a souvenir snack set for foreign tourists.

This will be the first product of its kind in the domestic convenience store sector. The number of visitors from abroad has shot up since the easing of most COVID-19 restrictions, but unlike other destinations, the nation has no “must-buy” representative souvenir that travelers purchase before they leave.

CU’s operator BGF Retail on Friday said that in cooperation with the Seoul Tourism Organization, the chain will release early next month Seoul Gift Box, which will comprise the traditional treats yakgwa (deep-fried honey cookie) and gangjeong (crunchy nut bar), with the package inscribed with the city government’s slogan “Seoul, My Soul.”

The Korea Tourism Organization said the number of foreign visitors in August was 1,089,133, a 250.3% leap from 310,945 in the same month last year. Domestic convenience stores are growingly an essential part of the tourist experience for such travelers rather than a passing consumption channel. 

Last month, the number of payments made at CU branches through 12 foreign payment methods like China’s Alipay, Thailand’s TruMoney and Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go surged 178.6% from September last year.

Yakgwa’s rising popularity among foreign tourists was another major factor. CU said sales of the snack made through overseas payment methods jumped a whopping 336% in the third quarter from the first.

“We plan to monitor customer responses mainly in locations frequented by foreign visitors, and will consider expanding production,” a BGF Retail source said.

Write to Young Chan Song at 0full@hankyung.com