According to the trade ministry, in the first half of the year, sales in South Korean convenience store chains came second only to department stores among offline shopping outlets. The data revealed that convenience stores accounted for 16 percent of sales in the January-June period, following closely behind department stores at 16.8 percent. Furthermore, convenience stores surpassed large discount stores in terms of annual sales ratio for the first time in 2021 and have since maintained the second-ranking position. The ministry attributed the increase in convenience store sales to higher demand from single-person and two-person households, while noting that consumers are spending less at department stores due to high interest rates and consumer prices. In the January-June period, South Korean convenience store chains recorded the second-highest sales among offline shopping outlets, trailing only behind department stores. The data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy indicated that convenience stores accounted for 16 percent of sales, slightly behind department stores at 16.8 percent. The ministry also highlighted that convenience stores surpassed large discount stores in annual sales ratio for the first time in 2021 and have since maintained the second-ranking position. This shift was attributed to increased demand from single-person and two-person households, while consumers are spending less at department stores due to high interest rates and consumer prices.