긴급재난지원금 첫날 어디썼나 보니...'생필품' 사거나 살까말까 하던 '고가품'

The South Korean government started depositing payments of the COVID-19 emergency relief funds earlier this week.
It turns out not only are people spending that extra money on daily necessities but also on items that they woudn't nornally buy. That includes convenience store wine.
Our Kim Dami tells us more.
On the first day of shopping with their government relief funds, many people hit their local convenience stores to pick up daily necessities.
"I'm doing my shopping at the convenience store because it's easy to get to and convenient. I'm going to buy feminine products and snacks, which I need now and will always need in the future."
Topping people's shopping lists were rice, sanitary pads, shampoos and diapers.
In fact, sales of rice at convenience stores jumped over 48 percent on Wednesday from the previous day.
"Customers are buying instant rice in packs and looking to buy more expensive products like bluetooth earphones. I think people are spending the money freely because it's not going to sit in their bank accounts forever."
People also went on shopping sprees at convenience stores for items that are normally more expensive there.
Sales of razors for shaving rose well over 70 percent.
And normally slow sellers like wine and ginseng sticks also jumped by double digits.
"The relief money is available for everyone in the country. So people are buying not only necessities but also things that they have been eyeing for a while."
Restaurants and food franchises, on the other hand, have seen no significant rise in sales, apparently because the aid distribution has only just begun.
The recent cluster infection linked to nightclubs has also stopped people from going to and eating at crowded places.
"From Monday to Thursday this week, almost 8 million households have applied for the funds. They'll have the end of August to spend it, so local consumption will see an increase, brightening up local markets over the next few months.
Kim Dami, Arirang News."