From Water Purifiers to 'Anma Uija'... Mid-sized Companies Compete with New Technologies and Products

From the left, Cheongho Nice massage chair (model MC950W), Coway massage chair (model MCS01), SK Magic massage chair (model MMC155)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] Mid-sized home appliance companies competing with water purifier products are also showcasing differentiated new technologies in the 'massage chair' business.

Chungho Nice recently launched a premium massage chair (model MC950W) equipped with a 4-dimensional (4D) heated massage ball optimized for body contours, enabling three-dimensional massage. The built-in 4D massage ball protrudes forward up to 8cm and moves vertically and horizontally. In addition to the heating element applied to the back and lumbar area, the massage ball itself has a heating function that more effectively relaxes stiff muscles.

Furthermore, an S-frame is applied to the curved lumbar line from the neck to the hips, and an L-frame is applied to the line bending from the waist to the hips, designed to prevent gaps between the seat and the body during use. Especially, air cells embedded on the side of the calves rotate to provide a massage effect similar to acupressure by hand. A separate massage protrusion coolly rubs the back of the calves, offering a dual massage function.

SK Magic also introduced a 3D protruding ball acupressure massage chair (model MMC155). This product features two protruding massage balls and four massage balls that closely fit the body's contours, delivering a strong and refreshing massage sensation. It offers a total of 10 automatic massage programs, including comfort course, stretching, and rhythm massage.

The company explains that it is designed with a deformation-free L-shaped rail and a 3D massage system optimized for human body structure, enabling total care from the neck to the waist and hips. This product provides a perfectly fitting massage through an automatic body shape detection system. The backrest angle (123 degrees to 153 degrees) and leg height (20cm) can be freely adjusted according to preferred postures by body type.

Customized acupressure massage is also possible. Over 40 closely fitting air cells perfectly envelop the body, and powerful air pressure relaxes stiff muscles. It also features a heating function that helps relieve pain and improve blood circulation.

As the home appliance market shifts from ownership to rental concepts, the massage chair market continues to grow. Coway's 'Herbal Thermal Massage Chair' (model MCS01) stimulates major acupoints based on meridian theory widely used in traditional Korean medicine, helping relieve body pain and improve sleep. The company states that the product's effectiveness has been verified through clinical trials at Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Medicine Hospital.

This product applies Coway's patented 'thermal therapy tool' to effectively stimulate acupoints. Two thermal therapy balls installed inside the product move over the user's major acupoints, providing warm and comfortable stimulation similar to moxibustion.

It is designed to be used by users with different body sizes. Based on big data of Korean body types, it automatically adjusts the user's body shape to correct acupoint positions and can automatically adjust leg length up to 22cm. It also includes a total of seven herbal thermal massage courses, such as the 'Seogeunjetong course' for blood circulation and pain relief in the waist area.

This product features a '4D three-dimensional massage' function. Two thermal massage balls and two regular massage balls inside the product move not only up, down, left, and right but also forward and backward, providing detailed full-body massage. Notably, it applies an L-shaped frame extending to the hips instead of the conventional I-shaped frame ending at the waist, enabling more thorough massage. It also has a heating function that warms the back, hips, feet, and the entire body.

An industry insider said, "New massage chair products applying differentiated technologies and services that further enhance customer satisfaction are being introduced one after another," adding, "It is expected to contribute to the expansion of the massage chair market and technological advancement."

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