SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s arcade industry is seeing a resurgence in spending as venues grow larger and attract an older, more affluent clientele, according to new data from KB Kookmin Card. An analysis of card transactions at about 400 entertainment and leisure merchants nationwide found that average per-person spending at arcades reached [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The rapid adoption of foldable smartphones is reshaping the global smartphone market, driving a structural shift toward higher prices and more premium specifications, industry analysts say. Foldable devices, once the domain of early adopters, are gaining traction among mainstream consumers as demand grows for larger screens and multitasking capabilities. That [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The use of computed tomography (CT) scans in South Korea has risen steadily in recent years, even as many patients remain poorly informed about medical radiation exposure and its potential health risks, according to a new survey released by the national health insurer. The National Health Insurance Service said an [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The share of South Koreans who play video games has fallen to its lowest level on record, underscoring a rapid shift in leisure habits as streaming platforms and short-form video content gain dominance, according to a new government-backed survey. A nationwide study released Monday by Korea Creative Content Agency found [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — As weight-loss drugs gain popularity in South Korea, gyms that once thrived on New Year’s diet resolutions are beginning to feel the strain. Fitness centers across Seoul report a noticeable shift in consumer behavior as more people turn to prescription obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro instead of exercise [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — As soaring prices and rising gold costs strain household budgets, South Korea’s long-standing tradition of lavish first-birthday celebrations for infants, known as doljanchi, is steadily giving way to smaller, more private observances. Once marked by banquet halls, elaborate ceremonial tables and gold rings given as gifts, doljanchi has increasingly been [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — A large majority of South Koreans believe food delivery platforms should be the first targets of government regulation, reflecting growing public frustration over rising delivery fees and platform commissions, according to a new nationwide survey. More than 87 percent of respondents said they agree that delivery apps require stronger oversight, [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean young adults are feeling growing pressure and unfairness from traditional gender-role expectations at home and in the workplace, according to findings released Thursday by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The results stem from “Soda Pop,” a series of five public talk concerts held from late October [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly three-quarters of South Korean consumers have tried at least one artificial intelligence service, underscoring how rapidly AI tools are becoming part of everyday life, according to a new survey released on Thursday. The study, conducted by Consumer Insight, a telecommunications research firm, found that 74 percent of mobile phone [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign visitors to South Korea are increasingly favoring “value-for-money” shopping aligned with personal tastes, signaling a shift away from the high-end, big-ticket purchases that once dominated tourist consumption, according to new data released by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). An analysis of foreign credit card transactions from 2018 through September [...]