, all three of these businesses are characterized by relatively low capital costs, with small-scale internet businesses leading the pack. More importantly, they are all riding the wave of the wealth effect, which is redefining the landscape of South Korea\u2019s retail sector.<\/span><\/p>\nTHE WEALTH EFFECT<\/b><\/p>\n
As citizens become wealthier, their tastes become more discriminating, a trend clearly reflected in the ROK\u2019s retail data. Traditional mainstays of the Korean restaurant and bar industry are becoming less prevalent in the real business environment.<\/span><\/p>\nSince 2014, the number of simple bars and draft beer outlets on roadsides covered by tarpaulin has been declining. In contrast, there has been a surge in establishments offering Western food, fast food, bakeries and Chinese and Japanese cuisine.<\/span><\/p>\nParallel to these tangible changes, there has also been a more nuanced shift, largely cosmetic, aiming to meet the demands of a more affluent society. This includes the transition from motels to guesthouses and the replacement of reading rooms with study rooms, catering more to students and workers than children yet offering essentially the same amenities.<\/span><\/p>\nThese changes in consumer behavior coincide with an increase in professional services, such as lawyers, labor attorneys, surveyors and real estate agents. While a wealthier market that can sustain more professional services may be a driving factor, the growing number of professionals entering these fields suggests potential saturation in these sectors.<\/span><\/p>\nFurthermore, changes in societal attitudes toward mental health may be fueling the significant increase in psychiatry clinics. The majority of these clinics are in wealthier areas of Seoul, but there has been significant growth in other major cities as well.<\/span><\/p>\nThis change may indicate a decrease in the stigma surrounding mental illness and an increasing prevalence of mental health issues, a trend that has far-reaching implications beyond the retail sector.<\/span><\/p>\nAn illustration of a family walking their dogs | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\nEVOLVING DEMOGRAPHICS<\/b><\/p>\n
Shifting family dynamics in South Korea\u2019s capital region, specifically the trend away from traditional nuclear families, marriage and child-rearing, manifest in a variety of economic metrics.<\/span><\/p>\nOne of the most telling signs of this transformation is the significant increase in the number of establishments that offer pet supplies, which experienced a 200% growth since Sept. 2014, and 46% since late 2018. Concurrently, animal hospitals saw a 30% increase since 2014 and 12% since 2018.<\/span><\/p>\nIt appears that South Koreans are increasingly turning to pets as substitutes for children, altering the consumer landscape in the process.<\/span><\/p>\nThe dwindling number of wedding halls further illustrates these changing familial structures. With an aging population and a shrinking pool of unmarried adults, more weddings are occurring at upscale venues, contributing to the decline in traditional wedding halls.<\/span><\/p>\nMeanwhile, the resilience of travel agencies, which witnessed an impressive 27.6% growth from 2014 to 2022, seems to suggest enduring demand from older customers for travel services.<\/span><\/p>\nAdditionally, South Koreans are exhibiting robust demand for services related to beauty and health, likely driven by a desire to maintain a youthful appearance. This is reflected in the growth of skin care businesses (218% since 2014, 70% since 2018), plastic surgery clinics (22% since 2014, 13% since 2018), and skin\/urinary clinics (35.8% since 2014, 17% since 2018).<\/span><\/p>\nThese developments, while seemingly disparate, all point to a significant shift in societal norms and values. As South Koreans grapple with an evolving family structure, the country\u2019s retail and service sectors are being reshaped in response.<\/span><\/p>\nEdited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\nBusiness & Economy<\/span><\/a>Culture & Society<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Recent South Korean tax data provides a snapshot of the nation\u2019s retail environment, specifically focusing on 100 types of \u201cmain street\u201d shops that constitute a large portion of consumer-driven commercial activity.\u00a0 This activity, however, is progressively shifting away from physical main streets and carving its path within the virtual world. A discernible disparity has also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10207,"featured_media":2201349,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[24,25],"class_list":["post-2201346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-business-economy","tag-culture-society"],"yoast_head":"\n
How wealth, taste and demographics are changing South Korea\u2019s retail sector - KOREA PRO<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n