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Mothers fret over high Halloween expenses in Korea

Posted October. 25, 2011 03:13,   

한국어

A woman who recently bought a Tinker Bell costume for her daughter for Halloween said, ”It was a little expensive but I bought it to not discourage my daughter so that she can enjoy her Halloween party in kindergarten.”

With Halloween just a week away, kindergarten students are keen to prepare their costumes. The holiday is celebrated in Western countries, most commonly in the U.S, to honor the dead.

People dress up as ghosts to prevent the soul of the dead from entering. Children also dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating around their neighborhoods.

Since three to four years ago, Halloween has become an annual event at Korean kindergartens in gaining growing popularity since it debuted in kindergartens in the affluent neighborhoods of southern Seoul.

Kindergartens at other areas are also holding Halloween parties. A kindergarten teacher in Gyeonggi Province said, “We`ve been holding Halloween parties since our kindergarten opened three years ago.”

A few years ago, top-rated hotels in Seoul started to hold Halloween parties on Oct. 31 for people in their 20s, something which has since gained explosive popularity with the younger generation.

The popularity of Halloween parties has boosted the number of Halloween clothing stores. The owner of a party goods store in Seoul`s Namdaemun Market said, “Every year in October, we post high sales of Halloween-related goods.”

Hundreds of online Halloween goods and clothing rental stores have sprung up in Korea. Most Halloween clothes are imported and priced between 85,000 (75 U.S. dollars) and 100,000 won (88 dollars).

Large discount stores have also jumped on the bandwagon. Over the past several years, Lotte Mart has been seen sales of Halloween goods such as crowns, pumpkin baskets and clothes rise 20 percent each year. Sales have grown 53 percent this year.

Many Korean housewives, however, fret over having to buy Halloween costumes for around 100,000 won (88 dollars) that are worn for just Halloween.

One woman went to E-mart to buy Halloween goods but gave up, saying, “It`s a waste of money because my child can wear it only once.”

A mother of a four-year-old son said, “I was told by my child’s nursery school to prepare a Halloween costume, but can’t even consider buying one because they’re too expensive.”

A woman who has a five-year-old daughter said, “I don’t understand why schools are trying to celebrate an American holiday. Our children are unaware of the origin or the meaning of Halloween.”



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