South Korea’s online shopping market grew a modest 4.1 % in September, rising to 24.97 trillion won (about 18.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Monday. The gain, reported by Xinhua, was led by a surge in automobile purchases and a steady rise in food‑delivery and agricultural product sales, while sales of electronics and home appliances fell.
The ministry’s figures show that online sales of automobiles and car accessories leapt 30.9 % over the year. The spike is largely attributed to a boom in online orders of Tesla models from the U.S. automaker, a detail that was highlighted in the Xinhua report. In contrast, online sales of home appliances and electronics experienced a 7.0 % decline, a departure from the growth seen in other categories.
Food‑delivery services also saw robust growth, with online sales climbing 5.9 % year‑on‑year. Agricultural, livestock, and fishery products posted a 9.7 % increase, the latter also rising 15.2 % on a month‑to‑month basis in mobile‑device purchases. Xinhua noted that the sales of food delivery and agricultural products via mobile devices swelled by 6.0 % and 15.2 % respectively.
Mobile‑device commerce dominated the overall rise, with shopping through smartphones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets growing 5.4 % year‑on‑year to 19.08 trillion won, or 76.4 % of the total online shopping volume. Mobile purchases of clothing, by contrast, fell 7.9 %.
Travel and transportation services purchased online via mobile devices increased by 8.7 %, further underscoring the growing role of smartphones in e‑commerce in South Korea. According to Xinhua, the ministry’s data reflected a broader trend toward mobile‑first shopping, with the vehicle sector accounting for the largest share of online retail growth.
While the data illustrate a clear expansion in the automotive and food‑delivery segments, Xinhua does not provide specific reasons for the electronic and appliance decline beyond the noted downturn. The ministry did not disclose any industry‑specific actions or consumer sentiments that may have influenced the variance among product categories.
The Xinhua report, based on the ministry’s official statistics, does not offer additional commentary on potential external factors such as economic policy, supply‑chain constraints, or promotional campaigns that could have shaped consumer behaviour. Nor does it address regional variations within South Korea or the influence of federal stimulus measures on online purchasing patterns.
In summary, South Korea’s September online shopping figures demonstrate a 4.1 % increase driven by a sharp uplift in automotive sales, especially Tesla models, and steady growth in food‑delivery and agricultural purchases, with a simultaneous contraction in electronics and home appliances.
The report does not indicate any uncertainties about the data or its interpretation.
