'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, which were once just souvenirs tucked away in a corner of the royal palaces, have evolved into trendy consumer goods thanks to exposure on 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 the 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. Sales surged by 35.5% compared to the previous year’s 11.8 billion won. Since 2023, the brand has achieved annual sales in the 10 billion won range for three consecutive years, demonstrating rapid growth.

The explosive growth has undoubtedly been driven by content. Last year, when the Netflix animation "K-Pop Demon Hunters" gained global popularity, products featuring props and characters from the film sold out rapidly. In particular, ceramic dolls resembling the tiger character "Duffy" and cups modeled after the traditional gat hats of the "Lion Boys" became highly sought-after items. An official from the agency analyzed, "The ability to reinterpret Korean traditional culture in a modern way, combined with the global success of K-content, created a synergy that boosted sales."

Products for the Year of the Red Horse 2026

Improvements in infrastructure and external activities also played a significant role. The agency recently renovated the Deoksugung cultural product store to enhance accessibility for visitors. It also aggressively expanded sales channels, including pop-up stores at the Osaka Expo in Japan and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) commemorative events.

The industrialization of "K-goods" is expected to accelerate this year as well. The agency plans to remodel the National Palace Museum of Korea 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 construct a large "flagship product hall" in the eastern parking lot area of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The agency has already secured 800 million won for design costs and will begin a design competition next month to launch the full-scale development.