There has been increased interest in Korean products due to the
Korean wave as people around the world see interesting new products on
their favorite K-pop videos and dramas. As people connect through the
internet and social networking services, Korea has seen new interest in
exports in many areas.
|
SM Town Live concert 2011 in Paris (L), K-pop group SHINee (R) (Photo:Yonhap News) |
According
to the Korea Customs Service, the number of exports to countries in the
Middle East, Central and South America and Central Asia have increased
steadily over the past few years. Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia now exceed
10 billion dollars worth of exports, and Peru, Mexico and Brazil’s
export volume has increased by 50% since last year. Since the
Korean drama Daejanggeum kicked off the Korean wave in Iraq, exports of
consumer goods increased tremendously, with last year’s total consumer
goods exports reaching 750 million dollars. Also, exports of products
such as air conditioners and other home appliances increased 10 times
since last year and exports of Korean drinks increased 20 times.
| Korean drama Jumong (L), Daejanggeum (R) |
Since
2007 Iranian premier of the Korean dramas Daejanggeum and Jumong,
exports of consumer goods have increased 46.3 percent and surpassed 1
billion dollars. Also, the export of televisions has more than doubled
and exports of cars, home appliances, cosmetic products and beverages
keep increasing. The export volume of Korean products to Saudi Arabia
has now totals 1.9 billion dollars.Due to the increase awareness
of Korean idol groups and K-pop, many people from Central and South
America have developed a strong interest in Korean products. In Peru,
exports doubled this year for a total of 340 million dollars. Brazil,
meanwhile, has seen an increase in the areas of home appliances and
motor bikes.
Exports
to countries like Vietnam and Thailand are increasing, too. In Vietnam,
products such as cosmetics, accessories and clothes are the most common
exports, and the export growth rate in 2010 was 128.7 percent to
Vietnam, 112.1 percent to Thailand and 211.2 percent to the
Philippines. The Korean beauty market is booming, with lots of
tourists coming specifically to shop for cosmetics and beauty treatments
or buying exported versions in their home country. Because of the
Korean wave, exports of Korean cosmetic products increased 38.7 percent
compared to last year. According to the Korea Customs Service, in the
first half of 2010, the export of Korean cosmetic products totaled 240
million dollars spread among 119 countries. Asian countries like China,
Japan and Taiwan dominated, accounting for 87 percent.
| Korean cosmetic brands, The History of Whoo (L), Missha (R) |
Korean
cosmetic brand “The History of Whoo” has become especially popular in
China, Japan and Taiwan, while in Vietnam it ‘beat Lancome and Estee
Lauder brands to hold 16 percent of the market.BB (blemish balm)
Cream is among the most popular products, with tourists from Japan and
China bringing it back to their home countries as gifts for friends and
families. Popularized domestically by Korean actresses and Korean
dramas, BB cream is now a hit from South East Asia to Europe and the US.
Missha’s M Perfect Cover BB Cream is the most famous, with fans all
over the world.
| Korean cosmetic brands, The Face Shop (L), Skin Food (R) |
Other
popular products include Faceshop’s foot peel and Skin Food’s Black
Sugar Scrub. The Faceshop’s foot peeling product causes the feet to peel
over the course of three or four days, revealing smoother, softer skin.
Skin Food’s Black Sugar Scrub also helps people reveal significantly
smoother skin through the mild exfoliation powers of black sugar. According
to the Korea Customs Service, in the early 2000s, cars and home
appliances dominated overseas exports, but because of K-op many more
people have become interested in Korean cosmetics, accessories and
clothes and spurred exports in those areas.
By Oh Jun Kyung
Korea.net Staff Writer