Soccer fans love Ghana and the chocolate named after it

Ghana Chocolate [LOTTE CONFECTIONERY]

Sales of Ghana-brand chocolates surged 46.5 percent on Saturday after Ghana helped Korea advance to the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Sales of Ghana Chocolates, a Lotte Confectionery brand, surged 32.7 percent over the weekend and 46.5 percent Saturday, hours after the last match of the group stage for Korea late Friday night.

Korea's national team advanced to the round of 16 by knocking out Portugal Friday night. But it was also important that Uruguay not score too many goals, which was Ghana's contribution. In the early hours of Saturday, Ghana was defeated by Uruguay but only 2 to 0. If Uruguay had scored even one more goal, Korea would have lost its spot in the round of 16.

“I will buy an entire box of Ghana Chocolates,” read a post on Twitter, uploaded with images of the brand and Koreans holding Ghanaian flags.

Ghana Chocolates' main ingredient is cocoa beans grown in Ghana, according to Lotte Confectionery.

Koreans tried thanking Ghana in other ways, such as making humorous memes on social media and changing their profile pictures to the Ghanaian national flag. “I hereby declare myself a friend for life of Ghana,” read a post on Twitter.

The World Cup was good for convenience store sales overall.

Sales at CU convenience stores between 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday jumped wildly compared to two weeks ago, according to CU.

Sales of alcoholic beverages soared compared to two weeks ago, including beer (155.2 percent), wine (124.5 percent), hard liquor (121.1 percent) and soju (120.1 percent). Fried chicken sales rose 193.2 percent and dried snacks 161.3 percent.

Overall sales at convenience stores jumped 111.9 percent between 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, immediately following Korea’s victory. It seems that people intoxicated with joy visited convenience stores to keep the party going.

Convenience stores are holding events and promotions to keep the World Cup cash registers ringing. On Monday and Tuesday, the day before and the day of Korea's match against Brazil, CU will reduce its 11,000 won price for four tall-boys of beer to 10,000 won. Two-plus-one promotions for Ghana Chocolate will also be offered.

GS25 will offer a 50 percent discount on fried chicken, and E-Mart24 partnered with Hyundai Card to offer a special discount for certain snacks at “the price of 12 years ago” to celebrate Korea reaching the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years. Products such as Banana Milk and World Corn Vanilla can be bought for 1,000 won when paid with a Hyundai Card at E-Mart24 branches on Monday and Tuesday.

BY CHOI SUN-EUL, LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]