Online shopping sales in Korea rose 8.6 percent from a year earlier in January, driven by strong demand in food-related services, data showed Thursday. The value of online shopping transactions totaled 24.1 trillion won ($16.5 billion) in January, up 1.9 trillion won from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It marked the third-largest monthly tally since 2017, when the government started compiling such statistics, the ministry said. By item, sales of food delivery services and online grocery delivery each climbed 10.9 percent and 7.7 percent year-on-year, respectively, largely due to the impact of promotions from food delivery platforms. Spending on travel and transportation services also rose 8.9 percent year-on-year, as train and flight reservations increased ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in February. In contrast, online sales of agricultural products, including meat and fisheries, fell 6 percent year-on-year. Purchases made through smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices increased 8 percent year-on-year to 18.86 trillion won. Mobil
Online shopping sales rise 8.6% in January on food delivery services: data
in News
Related Posts
Latest News from Korea
- Haitian man dies in US immigration custody with untreated toothache, brother says
FLORENCE, Ariz. — A Haitian man confined at an Arizona immigration detention center for months died at a hospital Monday after a tooth infection was left untreated, the man’s brother said Wednesday. Emmanuel Damas, 56, told medical personnel at the Florence Correctional Center that he had a toothache in mid-February, but he was not sent to a dentist, said Damas’… Read more: Haitian man dies in US immigration custody with untreated toothache, brother says - Ruling party voices concerns about possible plunge in exports to Middle East amid escalating warThe chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday warned that South Korea’s exports to the Middle East could be tanked due to a widening U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, saying that measures are being prepared to cope with a longer-than-expected geopolitical crisis in the region. Rep. Han Jeoung-ae, chair of the National Assembly’s policy committee, made… Read more: Ruling party voices concerns about possible plunge in exports to Middle East amid escalating war
- Unification ministry adopts new English term for North Korean defectorsThe Ministry of Unification said it will use “North Korean-born citizens” as the standard English expression for people from North Korea who now live in the South. The ministry recently circulated guidance on the new term, explaining that it was chosen to better reflect both their birthplace and their legal status as citizens protected under South Korea’s Constitution. Previously, several… Read more: Unification ministry adopts new English term for North Korean defectors
- Online shopping sales rise 8.6% in January on food delivery services: dataOnline shopping sales in Korea rose 8.6 percent from a year earlier in January, driven by strong demand in food-related services, data showed Thursday. The value of online shopping transactions totaled 24.1 trillion won ($16.5 billion) in January, up 1.9 trillion won from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It marked the… Read more: Online shopping sales rise 8.6% in January on food delivery services: data
- Trade minister discusses deeper trade cooperation with Mercosur countriesTrade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with ambassadors from South America’s Mercosur countries Thursday to discuss ways to deepen economic cooperation, including trade agreement negotiations between Korea and Mercosur, Yeo’s office said. Yeo met with the ambassadors of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, which form a South American trade bloc called Mercosur, in Seoul to discuss possible reopening of negotiations for… Read more: Trade minister discusses deeper trade cooperation with Mercosur countries
Latest Entertainment from Korea
- LE’V Steps Into the Light: “Spotlight Soul” Captures the Artistry, Growth, and Glow of a New Era in the 2026 Season’s Greetings CollectionPhoto Credits: CHROMOSOME LE’V Illuminates 2026 with “Spotlight Soul” LE’V enters 2026 with a statement that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. His Season’s Greetings “Spotlight Soul” concept photos reveal a striking evolution — one that merges emotional depth with artistic clarity. The project, released as a collector’s visual experience, celebrates not just another year but LE’V’s firm grasp on identity, craft,… Read more: LE’V Steps Into the Light: “Spotlight Soul” Captures the Artistry, Growth, and Glow of a New Era in the 2026 Season’s Greetings Collection
- KiiiKiii Leesol & Haum Illuminate SPUR x Dior Addict’s January 2026 Issue with Daring Light, Sensual Motion, and New Beauty CodesPhoto Credits: SPUR Dior Starship Entertainment A New Year, A New Iconic Pairing SPUR Magazine opens 2026 with a collaboration that feels both intimate and electric. The January 2026 Issue Pictorial Preview showcases KiiiKiii Leesol and Haum in a visual dialogue infused with Dior Addict’s luminous rebellion. Titled “Light Moves: The Addict State of Mind”, the spread captures the interplay of motion, reflection, and self-definition—a signal… Read more: KiiiKiii Leesol & Haum Illuminate SPUR x Dior Addict’s January 2026 Issue with Daring Light, Sensual Motion, and New Beauty Codes
- Breaking Boundaries: ifeye × KITTO Taiwan Redefine Visual Storytelling in the January 2026 Pictorial — A Fusion of Innovation & IdentityPhoto Credits: Hi-Hat Entertainment The Convergence of Vision and Identity The January 2026 Pictorial from ifeye × KITTO Taiwan marks a defining moment in East Asian creative media. Framed as both a celebration and an evolution, the collaboration bridges art direction, fashion narrative, and technological fluidity to capture a new generation’s pulse. More than a photoshoot, this issue acts as a visual manifesto—an exploration of… Read more: Breaking Boundaries: ifeye × KITTO Taiwan Redefine Visual Storytelling in the January 2026 Pictorial — A Fusion of Innovation & Identity
- Xiaoting in Full Bloom: Kep1er’s Shining Star Redefines Power, Grace, and Global Glamour in Wonderland China’s January 2026 Cover StoryPhoto Credits: KLAP ENTERTAINMENT Kep1er’s Xiaoting Captures the Moment Kep1er’s Shen Xiaoting steps into 2026 as a muse of modern elegance, fronting the January 2026 Wonderland China cover with an aura that’s both futuristic and fiercely grounded. As one of the brightest stars of her generation, Xiaoting embodies the balance between aspiration and artistry that defines global pop’s next chapter. “Confidence is not just… Read more: Xiaoting in Full Bloom: Kep1er’s Shining Star Redefines Power, Grace, and Global Glamour in Wonderland China’s January 2026 Cover Story
- BTS’s V Radiates Timeless Charisma in GQ Korea x Cartier’s February 2026 Cover: A Monument to Modern Elegance and Emotional PrecisionPhoto Credits: GQ Korea – Cartier – BigHit Music. – BTS V x Cartier: The Sound of Stillness and Strength For GQ Korea’s February 2026 issue, the cover unfolds like a cinematic confession. BTS’s V (Kim Taehyung)—known for his magnetic duality of mystery and warmth—joins forces with Cartier, the house synonymous with precision, artistry, and legacy. Together, they create a visual symphony that celebrates… Read more: BTS’s V Radiates Timeless Charisma in GQ Korea x Cartier’s February 2026 Cover: A Monument to Modern Elegance and Emotional Precision
Learn People & History of Korea
- The Evolution of Busan: A Historical Journey Through South Korea’s Second Largest Metropolitan CityAncient Beginnings: The Founding of Busan Busan, known as the second largest metropolitan city in South Korea, has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. The earliest recorded existence of Busan can be traced to the Goryeo Dynasty, where it was referenced as a vital coastal settlement. Its strategic location along the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula… Read more: The Evolution of Busan: A Historical Journey Through South Korea’s Second Largest Metropolitan City
- The Evolution of Pyongyang: A Journey Through History, Economy, and Political DynamicsIntroduction to Pyongyang Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea, serves as a prominent symbol of the nation’s history and culture. Geographically located on the banks of the Taedong River, in the southwest part of the country, Pyongyang is situated within a strategic area that has historically facilitated trade and cultural exchange. The city’s origins can be traced back to… Read more: The Evolution of Pyongyang: A Journey Through History, Economy, and Political Dynamics
- The Evolution of Seoul: From Ancient Korea to Modern Metropolis and BeyondAncient Beginnings: The Founding of Seoul The city of Seoul, known today as the vibrant capital of South Korea, has ancient roots that trace back to the Three Kingdoms period of Korea, specifically the kingdoms of Baekje and Silla. Evidence suggests that Seoul was originally established as a settlement given its strategic geographical advantages. Nestled within the Han River basin,… Read more: The Evolution of Seoul: From Ancient Korea to Modern Metropolis and Beyond
- Exploring Korean Traditional Games in Squid Game: From Season 2 to Upcoming Season 3Introduction to Korean Traditional Games Korean traditional games have long been an integral part of the country’s cultural landscape, offering more than mere entertainment. These games, which range from simple children’s pastimes to complex community activities, hold significant cultural significance and often serve as a means of preserving history and promoting social interaction. Rooted in centuries of tradition, these games… Read more: Exploring Korean Traditional Games in Squid Game: From Season 2 to Upcoming Season 3
- Unveiling the Past and Present of Saju: The Art of Korean Fortune TellingIntroduction to Saju Saju, a traditional Korean fortune-telling practice, is an intricate art that seeks to interpret an individual’s fate based on their birth date and time. The term “Saju” translates to “four pillars” in English, referring to the four critical components derived from these time markers: year, month, day, and hour. This method holds significant cultural value within South… Read more: Unveiling the Past and Present of Saju: The Art of Korean Fortune Telling
