Quarterly mobile shopping sales in South Korea 2013-2021

The mobile shopping transaction value in South Korea totaled approximately 37 trillion South Korean won in the first quarter of 2022, with food services leading the categories at around 5.63 trillion South Korean won. Mobile shopping is commonly used in South Korea, and the sector has shown continuous year-on-year growth within the online shopping sphere.

Korea’s smartphone penetration rate

With the convenience these technologies provide, purchases via smartphone, tablets, or other mobile devices account for a large majority of online shopping in South Korea. This is in large part due to high rates of smartphone adoption. With a higher than 93 percent smartphone penetration rate, South Korea stands as one of the most connected countries in the world. This has continued to rise yearly with more than 90 percent of the population stating that they owned a smartphone. This stands to reason as adoption rates of smartphones in South Korea were especially faster and more pervasive than in other countries.

Mobile shopping and food delivery services

As South Korea and its consumers continue to drive their economy via this growing connectedness, certain industries have gained more momentum than others. In particular, food services, electronic goods, and travel services have become popular choices for purchasing via mobile devices. Mobile food delivery apps such as Baemin (otherwise known as Baedal Minjok), Yogiyo, and Coupang eats offer fast and reliable services at affordable delivery rates. With more than 60 percent of households stating that they order food delivery or takeout at least once a week or every two weeks, mobile food services seek to meet this demand with comfort and ease.