eCommerce in Numbers
Internet penetration (% of population with
85.1% of population above age 3
internet access)
Source: KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency)
Smartphone penetration (% of population
with smartphone)
83% of adult population (2015.03)
Source: TrendSpectrum
eCommerce market as percentage of total
GDP
B2C e-commerce as percentage of GDP in South Korea: 2.53% (2015
est.)
Source: Statista, http://www.statista.com/statistics/324590/b2c-ecommerce-as-percentage-of-gdp-south-korea/
Annual growth in the eCommerce sector
2.0% (2015 est.)
Source: KISA
Annual growth in mCommerce
4.0% (2015 est.)
Source: KISA
Number of online shoppers
53.6% of population above age 12
Source: KISA
Market share for eCommerce for B2B vs.
B2C
Average spending per online shopper
B2B 91.0%, B2C 2.0% (2013)
Source: KOSTAT (Statistics Korea)
Average revenue per user in the eCommerce market: USD 790.91 (2016
est.)
Source: Statista,
http://www.statista.com/outlook/243/125/ecommerce/south-korea#
VAT-rate on eCommerce
10%
Source: National Tax Service, http://hometax.go.kr
Specific rules regarding company
establishment in relation to online export
No
Key eCommerce platforms
Top 5 platforms in terms of annual volume of business:
11th Street, G-market, Auction, Interpark, Domeggook (primarily B2B)
Source: Money Week, http://mnb.moneyweek.co.kr/mnbview.php?no=2016012109348085711
Logistics – Key logistic and distribution operators in the eCommerce market
Top 3: CJ Korea Express, Hyundai Logistics, Hanjin Transportation
Source: The CEO Score Daily, http://www.ceoscoredaily.com/news/article.html?no=15317
Key product categories in the eCommerce market
In terms of number of transactions: culture contents 86.0%, clothing & accessories 82.7%, food & dining 78.2%, daily &
home supplies 66.3%
Source: KISA
Types of payment
Preference by shopper: credit card 72.5%, debit card 42.9%, bank transfer 38.9%, small settlements charged to cell-phone
26.6%
Source: KISA
Return policy/ Consumer rights
ACT ON THE CONSUMER PROTECTION IN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE, ETC.
Source: National Law Information Center
FRAMEWORK ACT ON ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS
[Enforcement Date 14. Jul, 2011.] [Act No.10854, 14. Jul, 2011., Amendment by Other Act]
Article 17 (Matters to be Generally Observed by Business Operators of Electric Commerce)
Business operators of electric commerce shall observe matters falling under the following subparagraphs, in order to
protect the consumers relevant to electronic commerce and to secure the safety and reliability of electronic
commerce:<Amended by Act No. 8932, Mar. 21, 2008>
1. Provision of correct information on their trade names (including the name of representative, in the case of a
corporation), on themselves, and on goods, services, terms and conditions of contract, etc.;
2. Provision and preservation of the standard contract, so as to make it easy for consumers to gain access or acknowledge;
3. Arrangement of procedures capable of cancelling or altering consumers' orders by themselves;
4. Arrangement of procedures for easy withdrawal of an application, cancellation or termination of a contract, exchange,
return of goods and reimbursement of price paid, etc.;
5. Arrangement of procedures for dealing promptly and fairly with dissatisfaction of and matters requested by consumers;
6. Preservation of transaction records for a specific period, which are required for the verification of transactions.