SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Cafes near South Korea’s National Assembly have become centers of an impromptu “pay it forward” initiative, where supporters nationwide and abroad are purchasing refreshments in advance for protesters calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment. “A young voice called asking about our cheapest rice cakes, saying they wanted to pay [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – A major South Korean advertising agency has identified seven emerging consumer trends that it says will shape markets in 2025, highlighting shifts in everything from luxury consumption to climate-responsive behaviors. Daehong Communications, in its “2025 D.Life Signal Report” released on December 10, outlined several key “signals of change” that it [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — New installations of global messaging app Telegram have spiked in South Korea, data showed Tuesday, as concerns brewed over possible media censorship following the martial law fiasco. The number of new Telegram installations came to 40,576 cases last Tuesday, according to data compiled by industry tracker IGAWorks, the day President [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – With global markets increasingly focusing on South Korean webtoons, Japan’s traditional manga is experiencing a surprising surge in popularity within South Korea itself, marked by a wave of high-profile exhibitions and unprecedented author visits throughout the year. The manga renaissance has been particularly evident in Seoul’s bustling exhibition scene. The year [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – CJ OnStyle, a major South Korean online retailer, has identified “newmiliar” as the defining consumer trend of 2024, describing a preference for products that combine familiarity with innovative twists. The term “newmiliar,” a portmanteau of “new” and “familiar,” emerged from the company’s analysis of sales data across its most popular [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Video streaming service YouTube has been the most used mobile app in South Korea for an entire year, industry data showed Wednesday. The Google-owned mobile platform recorded 46.35 million monthly active users in November, maintaining its lead for 12 straight months in the country, according to the data from [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – In a shift away from luxury brand obsession, South Korea’s younger generation is increasingly adopting a “YONO” (You Only Need One) approach to fashion consumption, prioritizing practicality and versatility over conspicuous consumption. The trend, particularly popular among millennials and Gen Z consumers born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – Single-person households in South Korea have reduced spending due mainly to high housing expenses and a tough job market situation, affecting the recovery of private consumption, a central bank report showed Tuesday. The proportion of one-person households out of the country’s total has been on a constant increase from [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – Daangn, a South Korean hyperlocal platform, is seeing unexpected success with its new “Bungeoppang Map,” a user-driven feature that helps people locate street vendors selling bungeoppang, a beloved fish-shaped winter pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. The map, launched on November 20 as a seasonal offering, has sparked a [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – Despite persistent inflation, South Korea’s fragrance market is booming, with niche luxury perfumes gaining prominence. International brands like Jo Malone, Diptyque, and Byredo are leading the charge, capturing significant consumer interest and driving growth in the high-end cosmetics sector. According to industry data, niche perfume sales through Shinsegae International’s [...]