Embedded marketing in South Korea: Targeted brand exposure through storytelling
With the increasing influence of Korean content globally, product placement (PPL), or embedded marketing in South Korea, has gained significance. This advertising strategy involves subtly featuring branded goods and services in dramas, movies, and TV shows. Read our Korea’s MZ Generation report Korean dramas, in particular, are known for seamlessly integrating numerous product placements, although […]
Diversifying choices in the Korean coffee market: it’s not only about iced americano
Despite not being a coffee-producing country, South Korea stands out as a significant consumer of coffee. In 2018, the per capita annual coffee consumption reached 363 cups. With an annual average growth of 2.8%, this figure rose to 405 cups by 2023. This surge in coffee consumption has prompted a notable increase in the number […]
“Meaning out” through eco-friendly consumption in South Korea
Eco-friendly consumption in South Korea goes beyond addressing global warming or preserving the environment; it involves consumers expressing their values through their choices. This shift has led to a substantial increase in eco-friendly consumption, soaring from USD 1.15 billion in 2001 to 22.98 billion in 2020. Read our Korea’s MZ Generation report Koreans are increasingly […]
How the MZ Generation is redefining future relationships in South Korea
The MZ Generation (MZ세대) encompasses Millennials and Gen Z, a term specific to Korea. Amid the rapidly aging population and low fertility rate, their demographic influence is not only expanding in proportion to the overall population but is also shaping relationships in ways that impact their interests, desires, and behaviors. This report delves into how […]
South Korea’s flagship stores: Going beyond retail and creating brand impact
South Korea, recognized as the birthplace of K-pop and Hallyu (한류), also boasts a vibrant and bustling shopping scene with fierce competition. To establish a strong presence, brands are launching flagship stores (플래그십 스토어), the primary and prestigious retail shops that embody the brand’s image, values, and products. These stores play a vital role in […]
Comparing South Korea’s Hallyu and China’s Guochao
In today’s globalized world, the influence of culture and trends from different countries has become increasingly prominent. Two noteworthy phenomena, Guochao in China and Hallyu from South Korea, have influenced consumption choices of luxury, food and beverages, fragrances, and many other goods and services. Recognizing the potential of these movements, many brands have actively embraced […]
South Korea’s funsumers: The increasing demand to make every consumption fun
When purchasing products in South Korea, there are several important criteria to consider, such as price, function, and brand reputation. However, there is an additional factor that is critical – fun – especially among the funsumers (펀슈머). The term “funsumer”, a fusion of the words “fun” and “consumer”, refers to individuals who are not only […]
South Korea’s digital ecosystem: local players dominate the game, but foreign competitors are lurking
South Korea is one of the most digitalized countries in the world. In addition to being home to chaebol tech companies like Samsung Electronics (삼성 전자) and LG Electronics (LG 전자), its population boasts a strong affinity for technology and the services it provides. As of 2018, South Korea ranked first worldwide in terms of […]
How South Korea’s semiconductor industry may become the global leader by 2030
As the world advances in the digital era, semiconductors have become the fuel to powering the data-driven economies – much like oil during the industrial economy of the previous century. According to Gartner, the global semiconductor market sales was worth USD 594.96 billion in 2021, a 26.3% increase from 2020. South Korea’s semiconductor industry made up about 19.3% of the […]
A glance into South Korea’s leading consumers: The MZ Generation
The MZ Generation (MZ세대), a term only used in South Korea, refers collectively to the Millennials (born in the early 1980s to early 1990s) and Generation Z (born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s). People belonging to this generation make up 32.5% of the population as of 2021. In South Korea, Gen Z and Millennials […]
South Korea’s perfume market: How the niche brands are winning the hearts of the MZ Gens through “Korgasms
The global market for perfumes has been increasing, and among it is South Korea’s perfume market, whose growth has been largely driven by the young consumers. In 2019, the market was worth about KRW 603.4 billion (or USD 423.0 million), and it predicted to reach to about KRW 980 billion (or USD 686.9 million) by […]
The pandemic and new trends have revitalized the dormant South Korean snack industry
The Korean snack market has recently taken off. In 2021, the size of the market was an estimated 3.7 trillion won (2.8 billion USD), up 4.5% from the previous year and it is expected to grow annually by 4.28% until 2027 This can be explained by the increasing number of people who enjoy snacking at […]