Picky Korean Consumers Foster Global Product Trends

S. Korea is becoming a hotbed of consumer product innovation for global export thanks to the pickiness of its sophisticated consumers, according to Chosun Daily.

Multinationals operating in Korea have begun to re-export to other countries products developed in Korea for local consumers. One example is a blender by Phillips Korea that can grind beans to make bean thread noodles and soy milk which is now being exported to various European markets. A surveillance camera by ADT CAPS that can trigger emergency calls is now being exported to Singapore and Australia.

Pizza Hut Korea has begun exporting its “bulgogi” (marinated barbecue beef) pizzas developed for Korea tastes. Baskin-Robbins Korea has inked deals with China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to export 500,000 ice cream cakes. The Korean subsidiary of Dunkin’ Donuts is exporting a locally developed rice drink.

Another example of the strong appeal of products developed by Korean sensibilities are the various frozen yogurt chains like Yogurtland, Pinkberry, Red Mango and Menchie’s which are spreading across the US. The chains were all developed by Korean-born American entrepreneurs and embody uniquely Korean sensibilities.