Online shopping sales in Korea surged more than 10 percent in April, reaching a record high for any April, driven by increased sales of food items amid inflation, according to data released Monday.
The value of online shopping transactions stood at 19.83 trillion won ($14.4 billion) in April, reflecting a 10.5 percent increase, or 1.89 trillion won, from the previous year, as reported by Statistics Korea.
This figure represents the largest amount ever recorded for any April.
The growth was primarily fueled by a rising demand for food and beverages, which soared 18 percent year-on-year to 2.77 trillion won, as retailers initiated various promotional campaigns.
Sales of agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products also saw a significant increase, climbing 26.2 percent year-on-year to 990.9 billion won in April, aided by government-provided discount coupons and subsidies designed to assist those grappling with high prices.
Online shopping for home appliances and other electronic devices rose 13.1 percent to 1.27 trillion won, driven by early hot weather, the agency reported.
Additionally, demand on online platforms for travel and transportation services advanced 14.7 percent, while demand for culture and leisure services increased 18.9 percent in April.
Purchases made through smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices climbed 11.9 percent year-on-year to 14.8 trillion won, accounting for 74.8 percent of the total online sales, the data showed.
