Snacks are best-selling items by Chinese tourists in Korea

What did Chinese tourists mostly buy in Korea during the Chinese New Year? According to the Korea`s retail industry on Sunday, they bought clothing and watches at department stores, and snacks, seaweeds and hair care products at large retail stores.

Hyundai Department Store branches in Apgujeong and Trade Center witnessed the sales of designer brand clothing and luxurious watches to Chinese tourists increase by 72.4 percent and 35 percent, respectively, compared to last year’s Lunar New Year. “Chinese tourists are reaching out to Gangnam beyond Myeongdong,” said a source from the department store. “As more Chinese customers want to buy high-end global designer brands in Gangnam, our stores` sales in the Gangnam district increased substantially compared to last year’s Lunar New Year holidays.”

Chinese tourists seeking less expensive products flocked to large retail stores. The Seoul Station branch of Lotte Mart, which many Chinese tourists visit, saw revenues from the Chinese people during this Lunar New Year holidays jump by 63.3 percent year-on-year. They were particularly interested in Korean snacks. From Feb. 1 through Feb. 16, nine out of top 20 items most sold by Chinese tourists at the Seoul Station branch of Lotte Mart were snacks.

Following last year, Orion’s "Market O Brownie" package with 32 pieces was the most sold item this year. It was followed by Chungsanea’s "Almond Seaweed Snack" and LG Unicharm’s "Bodyfit Guiaerang" sanitary pads with wings. Amore Pacific’s "Mise En Scene Hair Perfect Repair Serum" ranked fourth.