Online purchases hit record 17.5 trillion won in November

Online sales hit a record in November, topping 17 trillion won ($14.3 billion) for the first time.

According to Statistics Korea on Tuesday, online purchases in November totaled 17.5 trillion won, which is a 16.5 percent year-on-year increase and a high for data that have been compiled since 2001.

Mobile shopping purchases rose 22.9 percent to 12.5 trillion won.

Mobile online purchases for the first time exceeded 70 percent of all online purchases, jumping from 67.8 percent in November 2020 to 71.6 percent in November.

Online grocery and food delivery sales continued to grow rapidly. Online purchases of groceries rose 19.5 percent to 2.7 trillion won, while food delivery sales totaled 2.1 trillion won, up 26 percent.

Mobile grocery shopping was 26 percent of all online grocery shopping, at 2 trillion won, up 22.4 percent year-on-year. Mobile food delivery purchases were 2 trillion won, up 29 percent.

Online food deliveries fell 8.7 percent on month as social distancing rules were eased in the beginning of November before being tightened again.

Online fashion item sales rose 7 percent year-on-year to 4.9 trillion won, while bag sales jumped 53.3 percent to 379.3 billion won.

This is the first time that online bag purchases exceeded 300 billion won.

Automobile and automotive parts purchases online surged 42.9 percent year-on-year to 311 billion won.

Culture and leisure service online purchases surged 142.5 percent year-on-year. Online travel purchases and transportation service purchases were up 47 percent as social distancing rules were eased and more travel was allowed.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]