[Photo] Crowds gather to purchase hot item “Pyeongchang Long Padding” coat

A crowd of about 500 citizens gathered at the Lotte Department Store in the Yeongdeongpo District of Seoul to purchase the “Pyeongchang Long Padding” coat on the morning of Nov. 22. The goose down coats are flying off shelves, having already sold 30,000 items. On this day, people had one final chance to buy the coat, but had to receive a number in order to purchase one. Citizens lined up overnight for their chance. So many people had arrived that the store stopped giving out numbers at 5 am, and people who arrived later caused a commotion at not being able to receive a ticket. In order to prevent safety accidents, managers and security from each floor had mobilized to the front of the store.

The down coats are similar to existing “long padding” coats, made of 80% goose down and 20% feather, and sell for 149,000 won (US$136). Long padding coats have become extraordinarily popular among the so-called “Tangjinjaem generation” (which comes from “tangjin” meaning to overspend and “jaem” for fun), which takes pleasure in conspicuous consumption. (by Choi Min-young, staff reporter)