[Click eStock] "Abko, Expectation of Increased Demand from PC Bangs"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] On the 24th, SK Securities analyzed that demand for gaming gear from Abko, a gaming gear specialist company, will increase as PC bang usage normalizes due to the restructuring of social distancing measures and vaccine distribution.

Lee Sojung, a researcher at SK Securities, stated in a report on the same day, "From July this year, a new social distancing restructuring system that relaxes quarantine restrictions will be implemented, and PC bang usage is expected to normalize with vaccine distribution," adding, "Demand for gaming gear is expected from delayed replacement demand and PC bangs scheduled to reopen."

Abko's gaming gear was mainly sold to PC bangs, but due to the spread of COVID-19, there was no replacement or new demand for about 1 year and 3 months. Game users who could not visit PC bangs purchased Abko products directly to enjoy games at home, contributing to the expansion of B2C sales.

In particular, with the summer vacation and the upcoming releases of 'Diablo 2: Resurrected' and Kakao Games' 'Eternal Return,' the PC bang business is expected to improve.

The researcher said, "In a situation where PC bang sales have significantly decreased compared to the past, gaming gear sales in the first quarter of this year recorded 30.1 billion KRW, a 39% increase compared to the same period last year, solely from B2C sales, so high sales growth is expected in the second half of the year."

He also analyzed, "Monthly sales in the small home appliances sector are continuously increasing, and from the first quarter of this year, the small home appliances business division is expanding its workforce and marketing expenses," adding, "With many new products being released, continuous sales growth is expected in the future."