EconomyIntermediate

한국의 온라인 쇼핑 문화

Coupang's Rocket Delivery Fuels Korea's Online Shopping Boom

한국은 스마트폰을 사용하는 사람이 많아서 온라인 쇼핑과 모바일 쇼핑이 아주 활발합니다. 특히 쿠팡은 ’로켓배송’이라는 빠른 배송 서비스로 큰 인기를 얻었습니다. 로켓배송을 이용하면 보통 오늘 주문한 물건을 다음 날 받을 수 있습니다. 쿠팡 외에도 네이버쇼핑, 지마켓 같은 여러 쇼핑 플랫폼이 서로 경쟁하고 있습니다. 그래서 사람들은 매장에 직접 가지 않아도 물건을 편리하게 받을 수 있게 되었습니다. 하지만 온라인 쇼핑이 늘어나면서 전통시장이나 동네 상점 같은 오프라인 가게는 어려움을 겪고 있습니다. 앞으로도 온라인 쇼핑 문화는 한국 사람들의 생활에 계속 큰 영향을 줄 것입니다.

Translation

Korea has a high rate of smartphone use, so online and mobile shopping are very active. In particular, Coupang gained great popularity through its fast delivery service called "Rocket Delivery." If you use Rocket Delivery, you can usually receive an item ordered today by the next day. Besides Coupang, various shopping platforms such as Naver Shopping and Gmarket are competing with each other. As a result, people have come to be able to conveniently receive goods without going to a store in person. However, as online shopping increases, offline stores such as traditional markets and neighborhood shops are experiencing difficulties. Online shopping culture is likely to continue having a big impact on Korean people's lives in the future.

Vocabulary

  • 스마트폰명사 (noun)smartphone
  • 활발하다형용사 (adjective)to be active/lively
  • 배송명사 (noun)delivery
  • 인기명사 (noun)popularity
  • 플랫폼명사 (noun)platform
  • 경쟁하다동사 (verb)to compete
  • 오프라인명사 (noun)offline
  • 영향명사 (noun)influence/impact

Grammar points

-아서/어서because, so

Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to express the reason or cause for the following clause; roughly "because/so".

Example: 스마트폰 사용자가 많아서 온라인 쇼핑이 활발합니다.

Because so many people use smartphones, online shopping is very active.

-게 되다come to ~, end up ~

Expresses that a situation has come about or changed, often due to circumstances rather than one's own will; roughly "it has come to be that / it turned out that".

Example: 사람들은 이제 집에서도 물건을 주문할 수 있게 되었습니다.

People have now come to be able to order things from home.

-(으)면서while, as

Connects two clauses to show that two actions or changes happen at the same time, or that one develops as the other progresses; roughly "while/as".

Example: 온라인 쇼핑이 늘어나면서 오프라인 가게는 어려움을 겪고 있습니다.

As online shopping grows, offline stores are having a hard time.

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