SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — Wine is gaining popularity among South Korean, consumers and has even surpassed beer on the sales charts at a number of major Korean retailers.
Liquor sales data from South Korean hypermarket chain Emart Inc. between January and December 13 showed that wine accounted for 27.7 percent of total sales, surpassing beer and soju.
Wine topped the sales charts at Emart for the first time last year, and has maintained its position this year.
At Lotte Mart, another discount store chain, domestic beer accounted for 27.2 percent of all liquor sales between January and December 17. However, wine sales grew to 19.8 percent of the market, on par with imported beer sales.
Experts argue that low-to-medium priced wines have driven up wine sales.
The result was also impacted by a plunge in sales of Japanese beer after last year’s boycott movement against Japanese products.
Image Credit: Emart / Shinsegae Department Store / photonews@koreabizwire.com
