S. Korea's online food transactions up 45% in H1 amid pandemic

South Korea's online food transactions jumped 45.5 percent on-year to 27.8 trillion won in the first half to post the largest half-year tally, surpassing the previous record of 24.1 trillion won from the second half of 2020.

The first-half increase was attributed to more contact-free consumptions necessitated by the pandemic.

The country's online food market is on track to exceed the 50 trillion-won mark this year after reaching 43.4 trillion won last year.

The transactions covered were those of food, groceries, farm produce, meat, fishery goods, and food delivery services.

Food and beverages transactions soared nearly 34 percent on year in the first half.

Meanwhile, the value of food delivery services jumping some 63 percent.

The first-half gain in the online food market expanded 23.6 percent on-year to 91.8 trillion won.