'K-Goods' Boosted by Netflix Hit 16.1 Billion Won in Sales... Record High

Sales Surge 35% Year-on-Year on the Back of "K-Pop Demon Hunters" Craze
Industrialization of K-Heritage Accelerates with Dedicated Product Centers

Newly Renovated Deoksugung Cultural Product Store

Traditional cultural products, once considered mere souvenirs tucked away in palace corners, have evolved into trendy consumer goods thanks to global platforms like Netflix. Fueled by this enthusiasm, related sales reached an all-time high last year.

The National Heritage Promotion Agency announced on January 2 that annual sales of its cultural product brand 'K-Heritage' were provisionally tallied at approximately 16.1 billion won last year. This marks the highest performance since the agency's establishment in 1980, representing a sharp 35.5% increase from the previous year's 11.8 billion won. Since 2023, sales have surpassed the 10 billion won mark for three consecutive years, demonstrating rapid growth.

Content has undoubtedly been the driving force behind this explosive growth. When the Netflix animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' gained global popularity last year, products featuring props and characters from the film sold out rapidly. In particular, ceramic dolls resembling the tiger character 'Duffy' and cups inspired by the traditional gat worn by the 'Lion Boys' became highly sought after and difficult to find. An agency official analyzed, "The synergy between product planning that modernizes Korean traditional culture and the global success of K-content has driven sales growth."

Products for the Year of the Red Horse 2026

Infrastructure improvements and external activities have also played a significant role. The agency recently overhauled the Deoksugung cultural product store to improve accessibility for visitors. It also aggressively expanded sales channels, including pop-up stores at the Osaka Expo in Japan and the APEC commemorative event.

The industrialization of 'K-Goods' is expected to accelerate further this year. The agency plans to remodel the National Palace Museum store, which attracts 750,000 visitors annually, to introduce high-end products utilizing treasures from the Joseon royal family. Specialized products are also being prepared for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, scheduled to be held in Busan this July.

In line with these efforts, the National Heritage Administration is pushing to build a large 'flagship product center' in the area of the east parking lot of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Eight hundred million won has already been secured for the design, and a design competition will begin next month, marking the official start of the project.