South Korea is defeated! Why don't Chinese consumers prefer Korean goods?

Once, the Korean wave in the Chinese market like a fish in water, countless consumers chasing this trend.

However, with the passage of time, the glory of the Korean wave in the Chinese market has faded. Why is that?

Why is the Korean Wave sweeping the Chinese market fading

South Korea's idol drama once made countless people obsessed, the audience not only enjoy the plot, but also obsessed with the fashion of the characters. Although it seems a bit cliche now, it was highly sought after at the time and was seen as a symbol of trend.

Through the entertainment industry, Korea has successfully entered the Chinese market and gradually expanded its influence. Korean drama fashion, makeup styles and related products have been favored by Chinese audiences and become so-called "trends".

These industries have infiltrated the Chinese market unconsciously, and few people are aware of the difference, just think that they are watching Korean dramas and then buying corresponding products.

This situation has boosted the prosperity of the Korean wave in the Chinese market, and more and more people have begun to chase the Korean wave. South Korea profited from a surge in Chinese tourists in 2014.

Today, however, things are very different. Although there are still some viewers who love Korean dramas and stars, the Korean wave has lost its former glory.

Korean brands that previously prospered in the Chinese market are in crisis, and some are even on the verge of closure. For example, in April 2021, LG announced its withdrawal from the mobile phone market, and a few months later stopped producing and selling mobile phones.

Samsung's market share has also fallen sharply, from first place in 2018 to 0.8%.

A careful observer might have noticed that during the heyday of the Korean wave, Korean cars were a common sight on the streets. However, the sales of Korean cars have also fallen sharply, and the market share has sharply decreased, which is facing serious challenges.

Korean cosmetics, which South Korea is proud of, are also being neglected, and some well-known brands are also affected.

Why Chinese consumers shun South Korea

At first, China and South Korea were friendly, so the Chinese market was swept up in the Korean wave and attracted by novelty. But over time, the relationship has frayed and the friendship between the two countries has declined.

One of the most important was the THAAD missile incident in 2016, which led to a sharp deterioration in China-South Korea relations.

Soon, Chinese consumers began boycotting South Korean goods, and the boycott grew. The Korean Wave has since waned.

At the same time, China itself continues to grow, producing excellent mobile phones, cosmetics and movies. With the rise of domestic products, South Korean brands such as Samsung face huge challenges.

The rise of domestic mobile phone brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi has put tremendous pressure on Samsung. Infamous for the explosion, Samsung's status is no longer what it once was.

Not only mobile phones, but also domestic cosmetics and cars are growing rapidly. The Korean Wave is declining as demand for Korean products in the Chinese market weakens.

It can be seen that the prosperity of the Korean wave in the Chinese market mainly depends on the friendly relations between China and South Korea and the attraction of novel things. However, with the change of The Times and the rise of China, these two advantages gradually disappeared, leading to the demise of the Korean wave.