Beer, condom sales up on Cup win

As the nation celebrated Korea’s World Cup victory over Greece, retailers were shouting for joy as well, as consumers opened their wallets in a party mood to buy everything from snacks to condoms.

The biggest winner on Saturday night turned out to be convenience stores and fried chicken franchises as crowds gathered in the streets and at home to cheer on the national team.

Bokwang Family Mart chain stores reported a 189 percent increase in sales compared to June 12 last year for its 60 branches near large-scale cheering spots such as Seoul Plaza, Olympic Park, Suwon World Cup Stadium and Haeundae Beach in Busan. Between 4 p.m. and midnight, when crowds were heaviest, sales jumped by 358 percent when compared to the same time last year. Total sales for its 4,800 branches nationwide increased by 29 percent.

The hottest items were food and drinks such as gimbap (seaweed rolls), boxed lunches, bottled water, ramen noodles and the “Blue Dragon” special - a boxed lunch decorated with the likeness of football star Lee Chung-yong. With huge crowds braving the rain to cheer outdoors, thousands of raincoats, umbrellas and tissues were purchased.

Stores near residential areas reported record sales of beer and snacks, up 313 percent and 244 percent, respectively, from last year, as many watched the game at home.

GS25 chain stores also reported brisk sales on Saturday, with the ten branches near large-scale cheering spots registering three times the revenue as the week before. After the game, sales of condoms jumped five times more than during the 2006 World Cup.

Free gifts and discount savings offered by department stores and hotels to mark the Korean team’s victory are all the rage.

Lotte Department Store is slated to give 20 million won ($16,060) in gift certificates to one lucky winner for every goal the Korean team makes. The winner, who now stands to receive twice that amount for the two goals on Saturday, can receive up to 200 million won in this giveaway.

La Seine, a buffet restaurant at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, central Seoul, will raise its discount rate by 10 percent per every Korean goal.

By Lee Jung-yoon [joyce@joongang.co.kr]