First Victory Brings Smile to Korean Shop Owners

"I love Korean items."

As Korea has achieved their first victory, Korean shoppers are very keen to buy traditional Korean items such as traditional drum, Korean Yin and Yang songs of Arirang.

Most favoured items of all are Korean flags where flag manufacturers are happily screaming for almost impossible increase of demand of the flag. Kim J H, Owner of Korean Flag Manufacturing Company have state that total amount of orders have increased by 40% then previous years. There are 70,000 new flags to be ordered to make small flags for rooting. This is the first time in 15 years that people keen to own Korean flags

The concept of Korean Yin and Yang are continuously spreading out to the other items such as stationeries and automobile accessories. Sales of the Mashimaro (the eccentric rabbit) toys and accessories have continued to increase with its world cup special merchandise. A toy shop owner in Seoul have said that; ‘ customers are always looking for Mashimaro toys with Yin and Yang decoration on it, there was one customer who bought 100 toys for his corporate presents’

Korean Yin and Yang stickers are also rapidly selling out, during the match with Korea and Poland the stickers completely sold out over the Korean province. So many stationary stores have additionally ordered rooting merchandise prior to the match against USA.

Most popular songs at Karaoke’s are Red Devil’s official rooting song and Arirang which were sang by Yoon Do Hyun Band. Also A Traditional Korean Musical store in InSa-Dong found that their sales have increaded by 10% due to foreign vistors interest towards Korean fork instruments.

aryssong@donga.com