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 [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Most South Koreans want to remain in their homes or local communities as they age or face illness, but many say the country’s local care systems are not prepared to support that preference, according to a new nationwide survey released Tuesday. The survey of 1,500 adults, conducted earlier this month [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of South Korean children and teenagers are embracing makeup as part of their everyday culture, driven by social media trends, easy access to inexpensive cosmetics and a loosening of school restrictions. The shift has sparked concern among parents and educators who worry about the deepening pressures [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — A dispute over cultural appropriation flared again this week after online sellers on Amazon—believed to be based in China—were found marketing traditional Chinese garments, or hanfu, as hanbok, Korea’s traditional dress. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University known for his advocacy on Korean cultural issues, said on Tuesday [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Job stability, higher incomes and access to home ownership are strongly correlated with higher marriage and birth rates among younger South Koreans, according to a government study released on Tuesday. The findings add new statistical weight to concerns that worsening economic insecurity is feeding the country’s demographic decline. The [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — A majority of South Korean adults believe a new infectious disease outbreak is likely in the near future and would persist for an extended period, even as willingness to be vaccinated continues to decline, according to a government-commissioned survey released Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) asked [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — With nationwide theater attendance still sluggish, South Korean cinema operators are increasingly turning to high-tech “special formats” — such as 3D, 4D, and premium immersive auditoriums — to give moviegoers a reason to return. Megabox, one of the country’s major multiplex chains, said Wednesday that revenue from its premium technology [...]
JEJU, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of visitors to Jeju Island are incorporating running into their travel itineraries, turning outdoor exercise into a popular part of the island’s tourism culture, according to new data released Wednesday. The Korea Tourism Organization’s Jeju office said its latest report, “Jeju Travel Through Data – Running Edition,” [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — The average amount South Koreans send as mobile wedding gifts has surpassed 100,000 won (US$68) for the first time this year, reflecting changing social norms and rising costs, according to new data from KakaoPay. In its annual “2025 Money Report” released Wednesday, KakaoPay said the average transfer made through its [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — CJ Olive Young, South Korea’s leading health and beauty retailer, plans to expand aggressively into wellness as consumer behavior shifts from traditional K-beauty purchases toward holistic health products, the company said Wednesday. In the first quarter of 2025, Olive Young will introduce “Olive Better,” billed as the country’s first omnichannel [...]