From Labubu to Chagee, Chinese lifestyle brands find growing market in Korea

Chinese food and lifestyle brands are becoming increasingly visible in everyday life in South Korea, as seen in crowded stores selling Chinese tea chain Chagee and popular collectibles like Labubu dolls in Seoul malls. Despite ongoing political tensions and occasional anti-China sentiment, Chinese cultural products are gaining strong acceptance among Korean consumers.

Experts say this shift is driven by globalization, social media, and travel, which influence young consumers’ tastes and purchasing habits. Many Koreans, especially younger people, are now familiar with Chinese foods such as malatang (spicy noodle soup) and tanghulu (sugar-coated fruit snacks), while others travel to Chinese cities like Shanghai and Chengdu and bring back new consumption trends.

Industry observers argue that consumer choice is now shaped more by personal preference than national origin. As Korean culture spreads globally, foreign cultures are also entering Korea naturally, and people tend to choose products based on quality and lifestyle fit rather than where they come from.

Edited using generative AI tools.  
Source :https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/trends/20260618/from-labubu-to-chagee-chinese-lifestyle-brands-find-growing-market-in-korea

Comprehension

What Chinese brands or products were mentioned in the article?
How are young Korean consumers influenced by travel and social media?
What Chinese foods have become popular in Korea?
What does the expert say about cultural exchange?
What factors influence consumers’ choices most, according to the article?

Discussion

Why do you think foreign foods and brands become popular in other countries?
How does social media influence what people choose to eat or buy?
Should politics affect people’s choices of foreign products? Why or why not?
What foreign foods or products are popular in your country?
How does travel change people’s tastes and preferences?
Do you think globalization is good or bad for local culture? Why?
Why do younger people tend to adopt global trends faster?
Can cultural exchange happen without political agreement between countries?

Vocabulary

Consumer landscape – the overall pattern of what people buy and use
Sentiment – public feeling or opinion about something
Lifestyle – the way a person lives, including habits and choices
Globalization – the process of countries becoming more connected culturally and economically
Frenzy – a very excited or uncontrolled buying activity
Cultural exchange – sharing and adopting cultural ideas between countries
Preference – a greater liking for one thing over another
Adapted – changed to fit new conditions or environments
Brand – a company or product name
Consumption – the act of buying or using goods