Eyewear recorded steady growth in 2017, posting a similar rate to the previous year in current value sales terms. Although eyewear is reaching its maturity peak point, eyewear managed to see positive growth in 2017 due to manufacturer, retailer and ...

Spectacles recorded moderate growth in 2017, with spectacle frames and sunglasses leading the growth. Both are strongly supported by younger consumers who prefer fashionable brands and design. Frequent replacement is also spotted and many ...

South Korea is an easy place to do business. It has a highly competitive economy, thanks to a well-developed physical and ICT infrastructure. In addition, increased focus on R&D and low annual lending rates increase the country’s attractiveness. ...

Bags and luggage continue to record healthy value growth in 2017, although the growth rate slowed down compared with previous years. The sales increase was stable, considering the category was reaching its maturity peak point; all categories within ...

Jewellery posted moderate value sales growth in 2017. However, in volume sales terms, fine jewellery recorded a decline. In fine jewellery, the biggest sales contributor is wedding jewellery. The trend in wedding collections has shifted from a total ...

Personal accessories posted moderate growth in 2017, significantly supported by the strong rise in current value sales of high mechanical watches and premium handbags. Most categories recorded sales growth, although the personal accessories market ...

Watches posted a healthy growth rate in 2017 as most products in different categories generated sales rises. Although the high double-digit value growth of previous years has stopped, watches continues to expand, thanks to mechanical watches and high...

Writing instruments in 2017 posted slow but steady growth, and at a slightly higher rate than in 2016. Colouring, graphite pencils, fountain pens, roller ball pens and pen inkwells and refills recorded higher value growth in 2017 than in 2016, which ...

Real growth of South Korea’s per capita disposable income and spending trailed regional averages over 2011-2016, reflecting the sluggish performance of the country’s external sector. This has led to a more cautious stance towards spending by South ...

South Korea’s economy underperformed its Asia Pacific peers in the 2011-2016 period, given its large exposure to global trade headwinds. An ageing population is also a growing concern for the state, but public finances are well positioned to cope ...

Korean pulp, paper and paperboard market grows by 2.1% in 2016, due to greater purchases from corrugated paper as well as speciality paper producers. According to the Korean Paper Industries Association, consumption printing paper used for books ...

Market value grows by modest 1% in 2016 to total KRW12.7 trillion, due to falling spending from private consumers and key B2B buyers, such as automotive and machinery. Industry’s production value remains flat in 2016 at KRW15.2 trillion, due to ...

Market value grows 1% in 2016 to total KRW62.8 trillion, thanks to increasing B2B demand for plastic packaging and engineering plastics. Production value grows by a modest 1% in 2016 to KRW59.1 trillion, although slow growth is due to shrinking ...

South Korean mining of coal and lignite; extraction of peat market contracts by 19% to KRW9.35 trillion in 2016, affected by lower import prices and a slight decline in consumption. Thermal coal demand remains high, with coal generation accounting ...

The social and political environment significantly influenced sales of beer in 2016, with increasing numbers of consumers drinking alone, and the implications of the anti-bribery law. The former helped to fuel growing sales of global beer brands in ...

This product type is underdeveloped in South Korea. Several cider products were launched via some retailers, such as hypermarkets, in 2013. However, having been introduced by small importers, the total volume share of these brands is fragmented and ...

Alcoholic drinks in South Korea trended downwards in volume terms towards the end of the review period, affected by the rapid product life cycle, an increasing number of single households and new regulation. Trends changed swiftly due to millennials ...

Since the fad of fruit flavoured soju moved to low alcohol content sparkling RTDs, this category saw huge growth in popularity in 2016. The craze of sparkling drinks impacted all beverages, including alcoholic drinks. Brother#Soda played an important...

Fruit flavoured soju appears to have been a one-time craze, lasting less than a year, since the craze moved to low alcohol content sparkling RTDs. According to a manager from the company Muhak, the fad of fruit flavoured soju drove sales of soju ...

Sparkling wine attracted consumers’ attention in 2016, in line with the fads for carbonated drinks, lower alcohol content and affordable prices. An alternative to expensive champagne, and following the craze of carbonated drinks, other sparkling wine...