Today's Date:  Wednesday, July 25, 2012

1. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

Health Concerns Arise as Consumption of Energy Drinks Among Teenagers Surges [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Society/New2/3/03/20120724/47995571/1

Summary: It is reported that energy drinks have become the best selling beverage in convenience stores.  According to Seven Eleven Korea, sales of energy drinks in the first half this year has increased almost ten times from the same period last year, surpassing the previous top seller canned coffee beverages.  According to the industry, teenagers  who need to stay awake until late in the evening for study are a key consumer group for energy drinks.  Due to the popularity, suppliers plan to introduce additional products into the market soon.  For example, Lotte Chilsung will lunch Monster, the second largest energy drink brand in the world, in the second half this year.

30’s and 40’s Are the Leading Consumers of Health Functional Foods, KFDA Survey [Korean, OSY]

http://news.dongascience.com/PHP/NewsView.php?kisaid=20120724100000000085&classcode=01

Summary: According to a KFDA survey in June 2012, people in 30’s and 40’s were the leading consumers of health and functional foods.  50.2 percent of the adult consumers surveyed said they had purchased health functional foods.  Female showed higher purchase rate (57.8%) than male (42.5%).  People in 30’s showed the high purchase rate (63.5%), followed by 40’s (58.9%), 50’s (50.8%), 20’s (38.9%), and 60’s (36.2%).  The kind of products that consumers purchased varied by age.  While red ginseng was most preferred by 40’s, Omega-3 fatty acid was most preferred by 50’s and 60’s.  20’s and 30’s preferred vitamins and minerals most.  12 percent of the people surveyed said they spent over 500,000 won per year purchasing health and functional foods.

50 New Hotels are Under Construction in Seoul [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20120724/48025161/1

Summary: It is reported that the number of hotel rooms in the city of Seoul (28,046) has been far short of demand (36,378).  As a result, a large number of new hotels are under construction in the city to cope with the increased number of tourists visiting Seoul.  50 new hotels currently under construction will add 12,885 rooms in the city within a couple of years.  In addition, 13 new plans for hotels have been submitted to the city government for approval so far this year.