China now S. Korea's top e-com selection

China became the top overseas direct purchase choice for South Koreans last year, surpassing the United States for the first time, which industry experts attributed to increasing demand from South Korean consumers for cost-effective commodities through Chinese fast-growing cross-border e-commerce platforms.

South Korean shoppers spent 6.75 trillion won ($5 billion) on direct purchases of overseas products online in 2023, up 26.9 percent year-on-year, according to a report from The Korea Times, citing data from Statistics Korea.

Out of the total 6.75 trillion won spent by South Koreans on overseas direct purchases, China accounted for 3.28 trillion won, or about 48 percent, marking a whopping 121.2 percent increase compared to the previous year, the report said.