South Korea ’ s online shopping hit a record high and accounts for nearly 20 percent of the country ’ s total retail purchases in February , government data showed Wednesday . According to data released by Statistics Korea , online transactions recorded 5 . 86 trillion won ( $ 5 . 21 billion ) in February , up 22 . 9 percent from a year earlier , whereas total retail purchases gained a mere 2 . 9 percent to 30 . 1 trillion won . Online share reached all - time high of 19 . 4 % against retail sales . Online shopping that took up 7 . 8 percent in retail sales seven years ago rapidly expanded upon easier online pay through smartphones . Mobile transactions accounted for 58 percent of online purchases , growing 37 . 8 percent on year to 3 . 4 trillion won worth . Online purchase of cosmetics jumped 47 . 2 percent on year , and clothes and accessories 46 . 7 percent . Travel and lodging bookings took up the largest 16 . 5 percent of total online transactions , followed by household and automobile goods ( 10 . 6 percent ) , home appliances , electronics and communication device ( 10 . 4 percent ) and food and beverages ( 10 . 4 percent ) . Cosmetics ( 71 percent ) , children ' s and baby products ( 70 . 9 percent ) , food and beverages ( 70 percent ) and shoes ( 69 percent ) were favored on mobile device . [ ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]