(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Sales of face masks, expectorants and eyewashes in South Korea are growing fast due to the onslaught of severe fine dust, industry sources said Thursday.
In recent days, South Korea has been gripped by choking fine dust — particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter — which can cause various respiratory diseases and undermine the body’s immune system.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical Co. saw its sales of anti-dust masks for the first two months of this year flirt with shipment levels for the whole of last year.
“Last year’s face mask sales were estimated at 2 billion won (US$1.8 million), and shipments during the January-February period were close to that value,” a company official said.
Boryung Pharmaceutical Co. said sales of its cough suppressant and expectorant Yonggaksan spiked 30 percent during the January-February period from a year ago.
Sales of the drug rose to 7 billion won last year from 6.6 billion won the previous year.
Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. saw sales of its eyewash Eyebon shoot up 30 percent during the two-month period from a year earlier.
(Yonhap)
