SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Faced with the worst economic downturn in 21 years, South Korean consumers are increasingly turning to supermarkets over big-box retailers, preferring to buy necessities in smaller quantities rather than bulk purchases. According to data from Statistics Korea and industry sources, total retail sales fell by 2.2% in 2024, marking [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Department stores have reported strong sales thanks to the increase in outdoor activities resulting from the lifting of social distancing rules, but smaller stores have seen their sales stagnate. The nation’s retail sales amounted to 408.4 trillion won in the January to September period of this year, up 7.4 [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Department stores and shopping malls are seeing a sales recovery following this year’s so-called ‘revenge spending’ trend, but local supermarkets are still struggling to stay afloat. The Korea Small Business Institute (KOSBI) and Statistics Korea reported 43.8 trillion won (US$38.1 billion) in retail sales in May, with department store [...]