Shunning Japan, China buying ‘Made in Korea’

Due to the continuing Sino-Japanese territorial dispute, Chinese consumers are avoiding Japanese goods and have replaced foreign products with brands from Korea more than any foreign country, according to a recent survey.

The Shanghai Trade Office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Corporation (Kotra) said yesterday a survey of 275 Chinese consumers in Shanghai showed that Korean products were behind only Chinese brands as replacements for Japanese brands.

The survey measured consumer reaction since the territorial dispute between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, or the Senkaku.

The items that replaced the Japanese products were electronics, cosmetics, food, clothing and cars.

Despite a weak yen making Japanese products cheaper, 53 percent of those surveyed said they have no plans to buy anthing made in Japan.

About 70 percent of respondents had purchased Korean products. Of the 30 percent who had not, more than half said they have no plans to purchase Korean products.

“In order to survive in the Chinese domestic market, Korean brands should strategically use government relations and consumer marketing, not to mention introducing the best technologies and products,” said a spokesman for Kotra.

“Recently, Chinese brands have shown rapid progress in the market. Also, since the effects of the depreciation of the Japanese yen could appear after six months to one year, Korean companies must obtain long-term competitiveness.”

The survey was jointly conducted by the Kotra’s Shanghai Trade Office and Chinese consulting firm Shanghai Creva Marketing Research between April 8 and 15 through phone interviews, the Internet and faxes.

By Kim Jung-yoon [kjy@joongang.co.kr]