Respondents who had no experience of purchasing processed food online shrank from 58.4 percent in 2018 to 43.2 percent in 2019. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of South Korean households are using the internet and mobile devices to buy food, a recent study has revealed.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) conducted a survey of 2,016 households, 78.6 percent of whom responded that they go online at least once a month to purchase processed food, up from 72.4 percent in 2018.
Those who responded once per week went from 6.7 percent in 2018 to 16.4 percent in 2019, and once every two weeks from 24.3 percent to 43.3 percent.
Respondents who had no experience of purchasing processed food online shrank from 58.4 percent in 2018 to 43.2 percent in 2019.
The results reflect the spreading awareness that good products can be bought at relatively cheap prices online.
Respondents gave 3.77 points out of 5 for affordability, 3.85 points for quality satisfaction, exceeding average satisfaction levels of both online and offline combined (affordability 3.49 points, quality satisfaction 3.84 points).
Respondents spent most on meat, followed by dairy products, noodles, dried seafood, and ready-to-eat meals.
“Online shopping is now one of the major channels for food distribution, and its impact is expected to grow,” said the KREI.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
