Bernstein sees Korean e-commerce growing 5% annually through 2027

Published 19/06/2025, 14:48
Bernstein sees Korean e-commerce growing 5% annually through 2027

Investing.com - Bernstein has released a comprehensive analysis of the Korean e-commerce market, projecting 5% annual growth from 2025 to 2027 as online retail penetration continues to expand.

The Korean e-commerce market currently boasts 42% online retail penetration in 2024, exceeding China’s 34%, according to Bernstein’s report. This penetration is expected to reach 46% by 2027, with the percentage of internet users shopping online increasing from 83% to 86% during this period.

Bernstein identifies Coupang (NYSE:CPNG) and Naver (KRX:035420) as the "two clear winners" in the Korean market following the decline of Qoo10 affiliates after a 2024 liquidity crisis. The report credits Coupang’s success to its free shipping policy, rapid delivery offerings, and cross-selling between food delivery and product commerce.

Chinese platforms represent a potential threat to Korean e-commerce players, with Bernstein noting that Korean shoppers’ time spent on Chinese shopping apps now amounts to approximately 33% of time spent on Coupang. AliExpress has formed a strategic alliance with Shinsegae (KS:004170) that’s under review by Korean regulators, while Temu has increased hiring in Korea.

Department stores are expected to continue losing market share as parent companies of tier-2 e-commerce platforms de-prioritize online retail, potentially providing growth opportunities for market leaders Coupang and Naver.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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