"US Panic Buying Craze" but Korea's Scene Overcoming COVID-19... Homecare Healing Products in High Demand

Overcoming Social Distancing with Enjoyment at Home
Healing Product Sales Increase... Popular Items Include Scented Candles, Ssuk Moxibustion, and Patches

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] While panic buying of food and daily necessities is sweeping the US and Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the domestic market is seeing a sharp increase in sales of home care healing products that allow people to enjoy leisure and relaxation at home. This trend is attributed to the growing number of self-care enthusiasts who want to address healing, health, and beauty all at home to overcome COVID-19. It is a unique Korean phenomenon where the 'social distancing' campaign, which encourages refraining from going out, is being embraced as a source of enjoyment.

According to Gmarket on the 27th, sales of Sudoku and puzzle books surged by 720% compared to the same period last year over the past month. Sales of plaster air fresheners increased by 311%, and jigsaw puzzles and frames rose by 222% during the same period. Sales of home gallery supplies, coloring book sets, heating packs, and sitz baths increased by 120%, 81%, 74%, and 33%, respectively. Sales of memory foam pillows and aroma candles also rose by 89% and 24%, respectively.

Similar trends appeared on Auction as well. Sales of plaster air fresheners and jigsaw puzzles and frames increased by 392% and 208%, respectively. Aroma candles, home gallery supplies, coloring books, and moxibustion devices also rose by 65%, 62%, 57%, and 14%, respectively.

Gmarket and Auction are paying attention to the increase in sales of various healing products. Not only pillows, candles, and heating packs that help soothe tired bodies and minds during rest, but also puzzles, coloring books, and economic games that allow people to spend time enjoying hobbies are being sold evenly.

A Gmarket official explained, "As social distancing has been strengthened due to the impact of COVID-19, various healing activities that can be done at home are increasing," adding, "This trend is expected to continue for the time being, and sales of related products are likely to steadily increase."

Mediterapy, which sells healing products such as foot patches and mugwort moxibustion, also explained that the recent increase in sales stems from the growing number of self-care enthusiasts. Sales of patch-type products that relieve fatigue accumulated in the legs and feet and help blood circulation, such as the 'Derma Relax Healing Patch' and 'Stay Warm Relax Patch,' increased by 57% and 93%, respectively, over the past month. Sales of the smokeless mugwort moxibustion 'Self-Heating Relax Spot' also rose by 20%.

Sales of home care product lines that allow comfortable health and skin care at home also showed a clear upward trend. The 'Soksal Pad,' specialized in skin exfoliation and moisturizing, and the body line management beauty device 'Soksal Spin' have experienced consecutive sell-out crazes, and sales of the low-frequency foot mat 'R&B Mat' also increased by nearly 20% compared to the previous month.

A Mediterapy official said, "Thanks to the interest of self-care enthusiasts who want to heal and groom themselves at home, first-quarter performance is expected to increase more than threefold compared to the previous year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.