The customs service said in terms of numbers and value of items, coffee, handbags and sneakers were the most imported products along with health supplements, cosmetics and clothing. (image courtesy of marketingfacts/creative commons)
According to Korea Customs Service (KCS), imports from on-line shops excluding printed materials, compact discs and tissue soared 60 percent in terms of volume and 48.4 percent in value. The data covers a period from January 2009 through June 2014.
In 2009, the KCS said South Koreans bought 2.2 million items worth 91.1 billion won.
The customs service said in terms of numbers and value of items, coffee, handbags and sneakers were the most imported products along with health supplements, cosmetics and clothing.
Coffee purchases alone in the last two years reached 15.2 billion won or some 540,374 shipments. For the five-year period, this reached 18.61 billion won, totaling 648,444 shipments.
Volume for handbags reached 449,651 shipments worth 49.87 billion won during the five-year period, while for the last two years, numbers hit 39.61 billion won and 375,772 shipments.
Numbers for sneakers for 2013 and 2014 reached 70.76 billion won and 926,648 items with overall numbers topping 107.91 billion won and 1.47 million shipments.
The findings added there was a sharp increase in consumer electronics such as TVs and miscellaneous kitchenware along with food products.
By country, South Koreans bought from on-line shops located in 137 countries, but the U.S., Germany, China and New Zealand accounted for 96 percent of all products as calculated in volume, although the latter accounted for just 2 percent.
U.S. shopping malls made up 85 percent of all items imported and 72 percent of the value. The corresponding numbers for Germany stood at 5 percent and 11 percent, with China standing at 4 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Goods bought from the United States centered around health food, along with fashion items and baby products. Purchases from Germany were mainly baby products, cosmetics and kitchen-related goods, while local consumers bought sneakers, handbags and clothing from China.
KCS said it plans help consumers buy products directly from abroad as part of its efforts to fuel competition, which can bring down prices while enhancing quality of service.
(Yonhap)
