SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of South Koreans have been purchasing household medicines that do not require a doctor’s prescription at convenience stores following the coronavirus outbreak.
CU, a convenience store chain run by BGF Retail Co., saw a 17.2 percent increase in sales of household medicines between September and November compared to the same period last year.
Sales of digestants jumped by 26.7 percent, while sales of pain relief patches and painkillers rose by 20.9 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively.
Digestant and pain relief patch sales at GS25, another convenience store chain, also jumped by 34.6 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively, over the same period.
Experts argue that the increasing sales are a result of more people avoiding hospitals and pharmacies.
CU and GS25 saw cold medicine sales drop by 14.5 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively, likely the result of strict COVID-19 preventative measures including mask-wearing that have helped the public avoid colds or other contagious diseases.
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