In brief
Online shopping in South Korea rose 4.1 % in September, driven largely by a 30.9 % jump in automobile sales and gains in food‑delivery and agricultural categories. Mobile‑device purchases dominated the growth, making up more than three‑quarters of the total. Electronics and home appliance sales fell 7 %, reflecting a shift in consumer focus.
South Korea’s online sales broadened in September, rising 4.1 percent year‑over‑year to 24.97 trillion won (about 18.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, as reported by Xinhua.
The Ministry’s figures show a mixed picture across product categories: sales of hamburgers, cars and farming products all climbed, while electronics and home appliances waned by 7.0 percent.
Automobile sales were the most dramatic, surging 30.9 percent as consumers placed more online orders for vehicles, notably models from the U.S. automaker Tesla.
Food‑delivery services grew 5.9 percent, a rise underscored by the swelling online demand for meals from Korean and international chain restaurants.
The agricultural sector gained 9.7 percent, reflecting an overall interest in bulk produce and larger agricultural, livestock and fishery goods purchased online.
By contrast, online purchases of home appliances and electronics fell 7.0 percent, a decline that may point to consumer shift toward mobile‑first purchasing habits.
Mobile device sales—smartphones, tablets and other gadgets—led the sector’s growth, climbing 5.4 percent from a year earlier to 19.08 trillion won and accounting for 76.4 percent of total online sales.
Within the mobile‑device umbrella, clothing sales fell 7.9 percent; however, categories such as food delivery, agricultural, livestock and fishery products, and travel and transportation services experienced growth rates of 6.0 percent, 15.2 percent, and 8.7 percent respectively.
These statistics illustrate how Korean consumers are increasingly turning to the internet for a broad spectrum of needs—from everyday groceries to high‑value automotive purchases—while still moderating their demand for large electronic appliances.
Industry analysts are questioning whether the rapid rise in online automobile sales marks a sustained shift in the Korean car‑buying model, how Tesla’s online ordering system is influencing domestic consumers, and what that means for the traditional dealership network—a debate that continues as the market evolves.
