S. Korean consumers willing to go extra mile for products that are proven safe

Arirang News 2019-06-21

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Time now for our "Life & Info" segment,...where we focus on information useful for your everyday life.
Today, we are going to talk about a new consumption trend in South Korea, where people are opening up their wallets more.... for some extra peace of mind.
For that we have our Kim Da-mi in the studio with us.
Dami, what's this new trend all about... and what prompted it?

Hi Mark, people prioritize their peace of mind...meaning they are willing to and inclined to spend their money on products -- perhaps even those that are more expensive -- that are proven safe...especially in this era of distrust in production and manufacturing.

Ok, that makes sense. There have been a number of safety worries in Korea, the most recent one being mattresses that contained some radioactive material, but we've previously seen issues related to pads and powdered formula for babies.

Right, ever since people found out everyday products that they use themselves and with their family can be harmful and even toxic, consumers are making more careful, conscious spending decisions...especially when it comes to our daily source of energy: food,...like one of Koreans' most beloved dishes....fried chicken.
A local chicken franchise fries only 58 portions of chicken with the same batch of oil...to ensure customers their chickens are cooked with clean, fresh oil.
After cooking the 58th portion of chicken, the old oil is replaced.
Under its chicken order system, your chicken is served with a sticker that indicates when your chicken was cooked.
Along with delicious food, the sticker seems to mean more than just a number to customers.

"I've heard some chicken places only replace their oil once every three or four days, but just knowing they use new oil after every 58 portions gives us peace of mind...especially when we are eating it."

It's interesting that people nowadays are making more conscious decisions even when spending 10 to 15 dollars on some fried chicken.

Right, and it's not just food. People have become even more conscious of potential problems. Consumers are especially careful when it comes to shopping for what they need for one-third of their life...mattresses
As soon as the radon-emitting mattresses scandal occurred in South Korea last year, safety concerns and complaints related to mattresses rocketed over 700 percent compared to the previous year.

Responding to the deep concerns and mistrust among consumers, a bedding company has publicized its mattress lab where people can actually see and experience how their beds are built...something that you don't normally get to witness.

“Factory tours are already all booked until August... that’s how much people are interested in seeing the products in real life, especially how they are developed and in what type of environment they are manufactured.”

We all are aware of how misleading advertisements can be,...but people can learn about products and see with their own eyes that what they are going to purchase is safe

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