Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
Men buy White Day gifts at convenience stores
Shoppers walk by a shop selling candy for White Day in Myeong-d0ng, central Seoul, March 12 2014. / Korea Times file
By Kim Bo-eun
Men buy “White Day” gifts at convenience stores, but women buy Valentine’s Day gifts at department stores, retailers or chocolate shops.
In Korea, Valentine’s Day is when women give chocolates to men. On “White Day,” which falls on March 14, men give women candy.
According to data from a domestic convenience store chain from Feb. 1-14 and March 1-14 last year, sales of chocolate and candy in the weeks leading up to White Day were 8.3 percent higher.
On White Day, sales rocketed 923 percent from average daily sales in the preceding two weeks. On Valentine’s Day, sales soared 779 percent.
Industry sources say this reflects the tendency of men to buy gifts at convenience stores on the actual day, whereas women bought gifts from various outlets ahead of the day.