Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
South Korea (South Korea) is widely visited
foreign tourists
.So, how do these tourists spend their money while in Ginseng Country?
According to data reports, there is a shift in shopping habits among tourists when visiting South Korea.
The reason is, in the past many tourists who vacationed in South Korea queued at luxury boutiques and
department stores
upper class.The habit at that time was that tourists preferred to look for cheap duty-free goods.
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However, there is a shift taking place now.Foreign tourists now spend less per purchase but buy more frequently.
There is a visible shift towards practical consumption and more tourists are aiming for experiences.In short, in the past they immediately spent their money on expensive items once they shopped, while now they mostly buy small, cheap items but often.
According to credit card transaction data reports collected by
Korea Tourism Organization
(KTO), starting from 2018 to September 2025, it was recorded that spending per transaction fell from 150,000 won or around Rp. 1.6 million) to 120,000 won or around Rp. 1.3 million) this year.
However, total spending per visitor jumped by 83 percent over the same period.This was also driven by a 124 percent spike in purchasing frequency.
These figures show a clear shift, initially tourists splurged on large, expensive items, but now more often buy affordable everyday items, while reflecting local lifestyle trends.
This trend is called ”
K-lifestyle goods
“, namely a focus on purchasing unique stationery, character items and accessories with a distinctly Korean feel.This trend is currently happening among tourists in Korea.
“The transition from high-end consumption to practical, lifestyle-driven spending shows how Korean culture and K content are expanding their influence in the global tourism market,” said Head of KTO’s Tourism Data Strategy Team, Lee Mi-sook, as reported by
The Korea Herald
.
Number of transactions in the store
gacha
(arcades with claw machines and capsule toy dispensers) jumped 142 percent in the first nine months of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, the same thing also happened in stationery stores and bookstores, respectively posting profits of 48.7 percent and almost 40 percent.Apart from that, the fashion sector is also experiencing a shift, where purchases of underwear, sportswear and accessories exceed conventional clothing.
K-beauty
remained the leader among others, cosmetic sales grew 35 percent, pharmaceutical purchases jumped 67 percent and health supplements (especially red ginseng products) jumped 75 percent.
(ana/wiw)
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