Since the antigraft Kim Young-ran Act went into effect on September 28, South Korea’s major retailers saw their sales of groceries increase as more people have dinner at home.
 
Major discount chain E-Mart said on Sunday that its overall sales marked an on-year increase of four-point-six percent during the period of nine days from September 28 to October six, but its sales of fresh food and home meal replacement products jumped 24 percent and ten percent, respectively.
 
Meat sales sharply increased 37 percent, while sales of fishery products and fruits increased 25-point-six percent and 23-point-two percent, respectively.
 
Sales of snacks and liquor expanded 14-point-five percent and eleven percent, each.
 
An E-Mart official said that the sharp increase in the sale of food products indicates the newly enacted law is affecting people’s lifestyle.
 
The new law is aimed at curtailing corruption by barring journalists, public servants and teachers from accepting a meal worth more than 30,000 won.