Sales of 65-inch TVs were only around 30 percent in 2017, but increased to 41 percent last year and surpassed 60 percent in the first three months of this year. (image: Emart Inc.)
SEOUL, Apr. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — With an increasing number of ‘homebodies’, those who enjoy spending most of their time at home, it has become clear that large and multifunctional household appliances are gaining significant popularity.
Emart Inc., South Korea’s leading discount chain operator, announced on Sunday that the share of 65-inch TV sales exceeded 60 percent for the first time this year, after analyzing TV sales over the past three years.
Sales of 65-inch TVs were only around 30 percent in 2017, but increased to 41 percent last year and surpassed 60 percent in the first three months of this year.
Sales of QLED TVs rose 103 percent in the first three months of this year from the same period a year earlier, with high-definition and ‘smart’ premium TVs also increasing in sales by more than 50 percent in the first three months of this year.
Massive dryer and garment care machines are also gaining popularity.
In 2017, 99.8 percent of dryer sales were dryers with a capacity of 9 kilograms, but this year 60 percent of total sales were made up of 16-kilogram high-capacity dryers.
Sales of large-sized apparel care machines, which can handle five sets of garments at once, have also increased by 80 percent.
Air conditioners with added air purifier functions also saw their proportion of sales increase from 22 percent in 2017 to 70 percent this year.
Meanwhile, there is a clear trend regarding high-end small-sized home appliances.
Sales of high-priced vacuum cleaners priced at 1 million won (US$870) or more increased by 55.1 percent in the first three months of this year, while sales of high-priced air cleaners priced at 1 million won or more increased by 253 percent.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
