Online shopping mall SSG.com reported a 37 percent increase in sales of home exercise equipment this month year-on-year, following a 49 percent jump in April, Shinsegae, the owner of the website announced yesterday. (Image: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, May 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Growing concerns over harmful fine dust particles in South Korea are seeing more people opt for exercise indoors.
According to industry experts, sales of home exercise equipment have been going through the roof since last month, nearly on par with the yearly sales peak that has occurred during the winter in the past.
Online shopping mall SSG.com reported a 37 percent increase in sales of home exercise equipment this month year-on-year, following a 49 percent jump in April, Shinsegae, the owner of the website announced yesterday.
The figures show more people are opting out of exercising outside in fear of fine dust, even compared to the period during the MERS scare in 2015 that swept across the nation.
Sales of home exercise equipment typically don’t grow over 3 percent year-on-year during April and May.
During the MERS scare, sales of home exercise equipment only grew 8.1 percent and 9.5 in April and May, respectively.
“Though warm weather in the spring normally sees more people exercise outside, this year’s appalling air pollution is seeing an increasingly number of people opting for home workouts, generating unprecedented sales,” an SSG.com official said.
SSG.com is launching a sales event until the end of this month, offering up to 30 percent discounts on some of the items including treadmills, dumbbells and bench presses.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
