South Korea’s Gwanghwamun Stores Record Massive Sales Surge During World Cup Victory

On 12 June 2026, the Korean national football team secured a 2‑1 comeback win over the Czech Republic in the opening group match of the 2026 North‑American FIFA World Cup. The match was staged at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul, where between 10,000‑14,000 fans gathered for street cheering.

Convenience stores surrounding the plaza experienced a dramatic sales spike. Ten 7‑Eleven outlets reported a 318 % increase in total sales compared with the previous week, with beer sales soaring up to 180‑300 times normal levels. Similar surges were seen in ice, bottled water, ion‑drink, snacks, umbrellas, and mobile accessories such as power banks and charging cables. CU stores recorded a 3.4‑fold rise in revenues, while GS25 showed a 25 % weekly increase, driven largely by non‑alcoholic beer, ice, and instant‑chicken sales. E‑Mart24 also posted a 59 % jump, with sandwich sales up 142 %.

A separate photo‑essay captured the exuberant atmosphere: supporters sang, played instruments, waved flags, and celebrated the winning goal on the makeshift cheering stage erected at the plaza.