In the midst of the vibrant real estate market , the furniture market is recovering after a decade of decline . As housing sales have picked up , consumers who want to buy new furniture , coupled with marriage season in spring , helped furniture companies including Hanssem and Hyundai Livart record more than 20 percent of growth this year . According to the furniture industry on Sunday , furniture sales were estimated to increase 10 to 30 percent year - on - year ( yoy ) in the first quarter ( Q 1 ) this year . Hanssem , a frontrunner in the furniture market , suffered soft earnings in each Q 1 from 2003 to 2009 . Then , it also recorded the 10 percent level growth rates but the sales shot up more than 20 percent from last year . An official of Hanssem said , “ thanks to the recovering housing market , our furniture sales likely grew over 25 percent in Q 1 this year . The furniture market has entered an upturn after a long time . ” Hyundai Livart has delivered 25 percent growth this year , far above 11 percent a year ago . Ace Bed , a leading company of the bed industry , expected its dwindling sales this year influenced by all - out maintenance work for its stores in department stores and other sales channels but as the number of people who visit the stores , growth momentum is still in place . [ ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]