Customers who purchased the ‘Galaxy S25 series’ at Samsung Gangnam are seen returning their used flagship smartphones after joining the ‘New Galaxy AI Subscription Club’ (Image courtesy of Samsung)
SEOUL, March 23 (Korea Bizwire) — As the home appliance subscription market continues to expand in South Korea, Samsung Electronics is seeing remarkable growth in its subscription business, generating more than 200 billion won (approximately $138 million at an exchange rate of 1,450 won to the dollar) in revenue during the first two months of this year.
Industry insiders report that Samsung’s “AI Subscription Club,” which allows consumers to access premium appliances and mobile products through flexible subscription plans, is on track to surpass 1 trillion won ($690 million) in annual revenue by the end of 2025.
Subscription services have become increasingly popular, particularly for premium products with high upfront costs. Samsung’s broad product portfolio — spanning TVs, home appliances, smartphones, and tablets — is seen as a key factor behind its success.
Among home appliances, refrigerators, with their higher initial prices, accounted for around 30% of subscription-based sales. In the premium TV market, Samsung revealed that half of its buyers in February opted for subscription models — a significant jump from just over 20% when the company first launched its appliance subscription service in December 2024.
Customers listening to a presentation about Samsung’s ‘AI Subscription Club’ benefits (Photo provided by Samsung Electronics)
This surge has fueled a more than 10% year-over-year increase in sales of Samsung’s Neo QLED and OLED TVs between December 2024 and February 2025.
The “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club,” launched in January 2025, is also proving popular with younger consumers. Around 60% of subscribers are in their 20s and 30s, drawn by the ability to upgrade to the latest Galaxy devices every year.
Samsung has capitalized on rising consumer demand for AI-integrated products by ensuring that over 90% of its subscription lineup features AI capabilities. The company also offers flexible plans such as “AI All-in-One” and “AI Smart,” which bundle purchases, free repairs, and care services to minimize consumer burden.
Further enhancing customer convenience, Samsung recently introduced the “Samsung AI Subscription KB Kookmin Card” in partnership with KB Kookmin Card, allowing customers to seamlessly manage and finance their subscriptions.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
