From Exercise and Time Management to Fashion Impact... 'Smartwatches' Become Essential for People in Their 20s

Smartwatches Popularizing for Health and Style... Over 100 Million Units Shipped Last Year
"Used to Maximize Calorie Burn"
Popular Among Individualistic 2030 Generation
Changing Straps and Cases... Enthusiastic About 'Watch Decorating'

Apple Watch SE. A 'smartwatch' that offers exercise, time management, and fashion benefits is becoming popular among people in their 20s. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] #. For office worker A (26), who started home training to welcome spring, wearing a 'smartwatch' before exercising is essential. A said, "I use the Galaxy Watch4 mainly to check my heart rate," adding, "I use it primarily to monitor my heart rate to maximize calorie burn, as well as to record exercise time." A pointed out that a major advantage of using a smartwatch is being able to focus more on exercise. He said, "There are exercises like squats where posture is important, and sometimes I lose count while paying attention to my form," adding, "Wearing the watch automatically counts the reps, so it has become an essential item during workouts."

#. University student B (21), who uses the Apple Watch SE, has recently become obsessed with 'Wokku' (decorating the smartwatch). B said, "If you search online, there are many luxury brand watch faces like Chanel and Hermes," adding, "I choose the watch background from the brand I want and change the appearance accordingly. Changing the case and strap creates a different vibe." B added, "At first, I thought the watch was bulky, but as I decorate it according to my fashion or mood each day, I feel it’s trendy."

Smartwatches, which allow people to take care of both health and style simultaneously, are becoming popular. According to global market research firm Counterpoint Research, last year, worldwide smartwatch shipments reached 127.5 million units, surpassing 100 million for the first time and growing 24% compared to the previous year. Apple ranked first with a 30.1% market share, followed by Samsung Electronics (10.2%) and Huawei (7.7%).

Operating the Ruputer Pro, the world's first smartwatch released by manufacturer Seiko in 1998. Photo by YouTube channel 'Time Tripper' capture.

The popularization of smartwatches is a relatively recent phenomenon. The world’s first smartwatch was the Ruputer Pro, made by manufacturer Seiko in 1998. Called an Onhand PC, the Ruputer Pro allowed installation and running of various apps via a docking station, enabling schedule management, calculations, and even simple puzzle games.

However, it did not attract much attention at the time, and production was discontinued around April 2006. Smartwatches began to shine starting in 2015 when Apple launched the 'Apple Watch.' Supported by the high smartphone penetration rate, this laid the foundation for popularization. By linking smartphones and smartwatches, the usability as wearable devices increased.

Subsequently, health management functions were added to smartwatches, establishing their position as healthcare devices. The large-scale COVID-19 pandemic period also increased interest in health management, which is considered a factor in their rising popularity.

In fact, smartwatch usage surged after COVID-19. According to a survey conducted by Korea Gallup in June last year targeting 1,003 adults aged 18 and over nationwide, the proportion of respondents who said they used smartwatches was only 1% in August 2015, but increased to 11% in 2019 and 12% in 2020. By June 2021, it showed a sharp rise to 19%.

The high wearing rate among the 20s and 30s age groups is also notable. The proportion of respondents who said they 'use' smartwatches was 25% each for those under 20 and those in their 30s, followed by 22% in their 40s, 18% in their 50s, and 13% for those 60 and older.

A look at customizing a smartwatch by replacing the wrist strap or attaching a case. Photo by Instagram capture.

◆ Multi-purpose use such as exercise, schedule management, and fashion items... 2030 generation is into 'Wokku'

The 2030 generation uses smartwatches for various purposes including exercise, time management, and fashion items. For example, the Galaxy Watch4 can measure blood pressure, sleep, body water, and body fat percentage, while the Apple Watch7 continues to monitor health through blood oxygen saturation and electrocardiogram measurements. Both products allow calls, message checking, weather updates, and easy schedule management via alarms, making them popular among professions requiring strict time management such as nurses and flight attendants.

Additionally, the ability to personalize by changing straps ('juljil') and cases to express individuality is another reason for popularity among young people. Watch faces based on luxury brand logos like Chanel, Hermes, and Cartier are created to give a luxury watch feel. On social networking services (SNS) and online communities, a new term 'Wokku' (watch decorating) has emerged. Users change straps and cases according to the watch face or outfit, using the smartwatch as a fashion item.

The first smartwatch Pixel Watch released by Google. Photo by Google

Meanwhile, as the smartwatch market is expected to continue growing, Google and Meta have also joined the 'smartwatch battle.' According to U.S. IT media The Verge and others, Google held its annual developer conference 'Google I/O 2022' on the 11th (local time) and unveiled its first smartwatch, the 'Pixel Watch,' scheduled for release this fall. Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, said, "Google pursues technology that makes life better," adding, "It’s amazing to see how this technology is applied."

Meta is also developing a new type of smartwatch aiming for release this year. Unlike typical smartwatches, Meta plans to equip it with a camera. While general smartwatches focus on healthcare, Meta appears to be concentrating on enabling features such as selfies and video calls.