Japanese brands – mostly beers and automobiles, are still shunned in South Korea to suggest bitter sentiment stretching beyond a year since voluntary boycott took off last summer after Tokyo’s export curbs.

.According to Korea Customs Service documents received by ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae on Monday, imports of Japanese consumer goods reached $252.57 million in July, down 23.4 percent from the same period last year. Imports of beer, cigarettes, and automobiles, in particular, fell sharply.

Data showed that imports of Japanese beer products plunged 84.2 percent on year in July after 96.4 percent in June and 87 percent in May.

Until 2018, Korea was the largest market for Japanese beers but Japanese beer sales began to plummet after Korean consumers launched voluntary boycott against Japanese goods and brands. The boycott was triggered by Japan’s decision to tighten export curbs on the country’s high-tech materials – extreme ultraviolet-use photoresist, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorinated polyimide – that are essential in production of semiconductors and displays, Korean mainstay export items.

Japan also excluded Korea from the “whitelist” of preferred trade partners in August, a move Seoul criticized as retaliation against Korean court rulings ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of wartime forced labor.

Data showed that imports of Japanese cigarettes fell 89 percent to $6,000 in July from a year ago, continuing a decline after 88.4 percent in June and 96.2 percent in May.

Imports of Japanese vehicles also dropped 51.6 percent in July to $52.352 million. Imports of vehicles between 2,000 and 3,000 cubic centimeters (cc) fell 72.6 percent, followed by those between 1,500 cc and 2,000 cc (61.3 percent), and hybrid cars (40 percent).

Imports of Japanese beauty equipment also fell 81.6 percent, fishing equipment 69.0 percent, stationery 33.4 percent, processed foods 33.1 percent, cosmetics 30.4 percent, and video cameras 28.4 percent, data showed

Selective pickup showed. Japanese motorcycle imports jumped 228.6 percent on year in July to $5.374 million. Imports of pet foods also increased 78.5 percent during the same period, golf clubs 61.4 percent, and sake, Japanese rice wine 15.2 percent.

Representative Kim said that seven of every 10 Koreans still support boycott.

By Pulse

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]