S. Korea Posts Increase in January Online Shopping

(MENAFN) South Korea’s digital retail market posted solid single-digit growth at the start of the year, propelled largely by a dramatic spike in online car purchases, official government figures revealed Thursday.

Total online shopping transactions climbed 8.6 percent year-on-year to 24.10 trillion won — equivalent to 16.4 billion U.S. dollars — in January, according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

The standout driver behind the month’s performance was a surge in web-based vehicle purchases, fueled predominantly by strong consumer appetite for Tesla models. Online sales across the automotive and car accessories segment rocketed 68.7 percent during the period, marking one of the sharpest category gains on record.

Several other sectors also posted robust double-digit expansion, with computers, daily essentials, cosmetics, and footwear all recording notable increases. Growth was more modest — though still positive — across food and beverages, clothing, home appliances, mobile devices, and furniture, each registering single-digit gains.

Lifestyle and entertainment categories also trended upward, with culture and leisure services rising 23.5 percent online, while travel and transport bookings advanced 8.9 percent — signaling a sustained recovery in consumer mobility spending.

Not all segments fared well, however. The e-coupon market contracted 4.1 percent, reflecting a cooling appetite among consumers for gifting everyday items such as coffee and baked goods through digital vouchers.

Mobile commerce continued to dominate the overall landscape. Purchases made via smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices grew 8.0 percent year-on-year to 18.86 trillion won — roughly 12.9 billion dollars — accounting for 78.2 percent of all online transactions recorded in January.

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