SEOUL — South Korea’s online shopping rose in single digits in April due to solid demand for food and food delivery services, statistical office data showed Monday.
Shopping in cyberspace gained 2.5 percent to 21.69 trillion won (15.7 billion U.S. dollars) in April compared to the same month last year.
The transaction of food and beverage in cyberspace grew 9.1 percent, and demand for agricultural, livestock and fishery products spiked 13.2 percent.
Online demand for food delivery service, mobile devices, and culture and leisure service advanced in double figures, while online purchase of cosmetics, daily necessities and travel and transport service climbed in single digits.
Demand for footwear, furniture, sports items and computers in cyberspace fell in single digits, and online transactions of e-coupon service dived 49.1 percent on a weaker trend to provide gifts such as coffee and cake through e-coupons.
Shopping through smartphones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets increased 4.6 percent from a year earlier to 16.79 trillion won (12.2 billion dollars) in April, accounting for 77.4 percent of the combined online shopping. (Xinhua)