2026 Chuseok Gift Guide — 5 Trends and Recommendations by Price Range
Here's a one-stop summary of 2026 Chuseok gift trends along with recommendations by price and recipient. Practicality, local, and in-season are the key words this year, with fruit and beef still holding the top spot.
As Chuseok approaches, the same worries always come up.
What should I get my parents? How much is appropriate for my boss at work? It's confusing every single time.
Every year around this time, I end up spending half a day just putting together a gift list.
So in this post, I've pulled together the 2026 Chuseok gift trends along with a recommendation list by price range and recipient, all in one place.
Key TakeawaysFor 2026, the key words for Chuseok gifts are practicality, local, and in-season. Fruit and beef are still holding onto the No. 1 spot, and the average budget is around 160,000 won. If you're unsure about your budget, gift certificates or mobile vouchers are a safe bet.
2026 Chuseok Gifts, What's Different This Year? — Trends in 3 Lines
If you had to sum up this year's Chuseok gift market in one word, it would be value for money.
More consumers are looking for a well-rounded set within their budget rather than splurging on an expensive gift.
Sets highlighting regional specialties and in-season ingredients have also become noticeably more common.
And fruit and beef still hold firmly onto their No. 1 spot, as always.
Trend ① Budget-Conscious Practical Spending — 50,000–100,000 Won Sets Popular Over 200,000–300,000 Won Premium Sets
With inflation continuing, holiday gifts are also being chosen with an eye on the wallet.
In fact, sales of fruit sets under 50,000 won at large discount marts have jumped significantly compared to last year.
E-Mart reported that the top three best-selling Chuseok fruit gift sets were all priced under 50,000 won.Source
Lotte Mart also expanded its pre-order lineup to about 900 items this year, with more fruit sets in the 40,000–60,000 won range.Source
Practical, well-put-together sets are winning out over fancy packaging.
Trend ② Local & In-Season Sets — Why Regional Specialty Fruit and Prepped Seafood Are Trending
The second trend is that where it comes from now matters.
Fruit sets that highlight their origin, like Naju pears and Chungju apples, have become key items at department stores.Source
Pre-prepped, ready-to-grill fish sets are also popular.
The advantage is that you can cook them with no hassle even if you're not great in the kitchen.
It's a shift where cooking convenience is now considered before the recipient's personal taste.
Still Unbeatable — Fruit & Beef (Average Budget 160,000 Won, Why These Two?)
According to a survey by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), fruit and beef ranked as the top preferred Chuseok gifts.
The average budget came out to around 160,000 won.Source
There's also a survey showing that apples and mixed fruit sets ranked first and second in purchase intent.Source
The reason these two items consistently stay on top is clear.
Everyone likes them, and there's little chance of getting it wrong.
Setting a Budget — A Real Example From My Own Gift-Giving Dilemma
At first, I used to think that buying something expensive was the only way to show sincerity.
But when I actually asked, my parents said a simple fruit set was all they really wanted.
Since then, I've switched to deciding the relationship and budget first, then picking the item.
As a result, I spend less time agonizing over it, and the satisfaction has actually gone up.
Recommendations by Price Range (Around 30,000 Won / 50,000–100,000 Won / 150,000 Won and Up)
Deciding your budget first makes the whole process much faster.
Here's a table summarizing recommended items by price range.
Price Range | Recommended Items | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
Around 30,000 Won | Canned goods/tuna sets, small-portion fruit | Close coworkers, casual greetings |
50,000–100,000 Won | Mixed apple-and-pear fruit sets, meat sets under 100,000 won | Relatives, general acquaintances |
150,000 Won and Up | Korean beef (hanwoo) sets, Cheong Kwan Jang red ginseng sets | Parents, business partners, superiors |
As you can see from the table, the higher the budget, the more the item shifts toward something that feels more heartfelt.
The 30,000-won range is great for expressing goodwill without much burden, while 150,000 won and up suits more formal occasions.
My tip is to decide the budget first, before thinking about who the gift is for.
Recommendations by Recipient (Parents, Bosses, Close Friends — What's the Difference?)
The tone of the gift changes depending on who it's for.
- Parents: Red ginseng or Korean beef sets wishing them good health are the classic choice.
- Bosses: Formal fruit or meat sets, or branded gift certificates, are a safe choice.
- Close friends: Light dessert sets or mobile vouchers work well.
For parents, focus on health; for bosses, formality; for friends, something light and unburdensome — that's the guiding principle.
Can't Decide on a Budget? Here's Why Gift Certificates and Mobile Vouchers Are the Answer
If it's hard to settle on a specific item, a gift certificate is the safest choice.
The big advantage is that the recipient can pick out exactly what they need themselves.
Mobile vouchers also require no worrying about delivery, and you can still get one ready even close to the holiday.
When I'm short on time, I usually end up expressing my gratitude with a gift certificate too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What's an appropriate budget for 2026 Chuseok gifts?
A. According to the aT survey, the average budget is about 160,000 won, but it can range from as low as 30,000 won depending on the recipient.
Q2. Are there popular items besides fruit and beef?
A. Prepped seafood sets, regional specialty fruit sets, and health foods like red ginseng remain consistently popular.
Q3. I still haven't decided on a gift and I'm running out of time — what should I do?
A. Preparing a mobile voucher or gift certificate lets you express your goodwill without worrying about delivery, even right before the holiday.
Wrapping Up
In the end, what matters with Chuseok gifts isn't how expensive they are, but how much thought goes into them.
Once you settle on a budget and a recipient first, everything else becomes much easier.
With this series, I've now covered highway tolls, KTX booking, and Chuseok gifts.
All that's left now is to enjoy a happy holiday with family.
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