A study found that about four out of ten Internet users have had experience in buying goods online from foreign retailers. The Korea Internet & Security Agency announced on December 24 results of a survey related to purchasing of foreign goods on 5,000 users who are experienced in online shopping. From this survey, as much as 41.6 percent of respondents said they have bought items from overseas retailers at least once. The average amount of purchase in a year was 470,000 won.
The most popular items were clothing, shoes, and sporting goods with 50.8 percent. It was then followed by health supplements and food items (35.1%), cosmetics (23.7%), handbags, bags, and accessories (21.5%), toys and baby goods (16.0%). By country of origin, the United States took the lion's share of 88.3 percent, followed by Japan (18.3%), China (10.4%), Britain (8.8%), and Germany (8.6%).
As to the reasons for preferring foreign retailers over domestic ones, they answered "product variety" (76.8%) and "lower prices" (76.6%). Of the respondents, 56.6 percent said they have had problem getting packages such as delay and loss.
