570,000 Sleep Disorder Patients... How Beds Change the 'Quality of Sleep'

The Era of 3 Trillion Won Sleeponomics Begins Amid COVID-19 Stay-at-Home and Heatwave

The number of patients receiving treatment for sleep disorders reached 568,067, accounting for 1.1% of the entire population, while the sleep economy market for better sleep, known as Sleeponomics, is gaining attention. Photo by Simmons

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] As the quality of sleep emerges as an important value in modern life, the market related to sleep is growing, and sleeponomics (sleep economy) is gaining attention.

According to the industry on the 12th, sleeponomics, which helps forget daily stress and achieve more comfortable sleep, is gradually expanding.

According to a survey by the Korea Sleep Industry Association, the domestic sleep market size, which was only 480 billion KRW in 2011, has grown sixfold to 3 trillion KRW in 2019. Major bed brands, the largest bedding products that aid good sleep, are also conducting multifaceted R&D and marketing to improve sleep quality through premium strategies.

Simmons is expanding 'experience' promotion by increasing its market share of luxury hotel mattresses. They are expanding the use of their top-tier mattress, 'Beautyrest Black,' mainly in newly opened hotels where customers can experience Simmons' premium products.

Simmons operates the 'Sleep Research R&D Center,' Asia's largest bed research institute. They invest 350 million KRW to develop a mattress testing mannequin that collects various data on how different body parts feel when lying down. At Simmons Terrace in Icheon, the general public can directly experience mattress performance and receive personalized mattress recommendations.

Ace Bed is also focusing on its premium lineup. They are strengthening premium product groups such as 'Hybrid Tech' and 'Royal Ace.' Additionally, they are expanding Ace Square, an experiential store where customers can lie down and try mattresses, nationwide.

Since establishing the Bed Engineering Research Institute in 1992, Ace Bed was recognized as a domestic internationally accredited bed testing institution in 2006. Through the Mobile Sleep Engineering Research Institute, they have built a system that analyzes optimal mattresses by combining mattress experience and customers' pressure distribution data.

According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of patients treated for sleep disorders in 2019 was 568,067 as of 2018, accounting for 1.1% of the total population. This number has steadily increased at an average annual rate of 8.1%, from 415,502 in 2014 to 495,434 in 2016.

Experts point out that since the average sleep time in Korea is among the lowest in OECD countries and the number of sleep disorder patients is increasing every year, government-level policies and strategies to support the sleep industry are required.