Japan has long led the way in convenience stores, with combini becoming famous globally for their wide range of products and services. They’ve even become a symbol of Japan’s unique appeal.
But of course, convenience stores aren’t exclusive to Japanโother countries have successfully adopted the model. Recently, South Korea has been rising in the scene, with some saying its convenience stores (Korea: ํธ์์ ; pyeoneuijeom) have even surpassed the iconic Japanese combini.
Neck-and-neck
On June 11, 2024, South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo reported, “Korean convenience stores, once modeled after Japanese ones, are now said to have surpassed them.”
That’s a major claim in the combini world. Although convenience stores are often linked with Japan, they actually originated in the US. However, Japanโs reimagining of the combini in the 70s turned it into more than just a serviceโit became a concept that perfectly captures the essence of Japanese society.
The combini success story quickly crossed borders, landing in South Korea in 1989. While Japanese combini brought their signature featuresโ24-hour service, onigiri, ATMs, and moreโthe model was tailored to fit South Korean tastes. Regular product planning trips to Japan helped integrate these features, setting the stage for South Korean convenience stores to thrive. The impact was swift and impressive.
Over time, the dynamic between Japan and South Koreaโs convenience store scene has flipped. Japan, the birthplace of the modern combini, has seen its numbers decline since Covid-19, reaching 55,684 stores by July 2024. Meanwhile, South Korea has surged ahead, growing from 38,451 stores in 2018 to 55,580 last year. Today, South Korea leads the world in convenience stores per capita.
But thatโs not all. Korean pyeoneuijeom are also leading internationally, with a bold push into Southeast Asia. GS25 now has 562 stores in Vietnam and Mongolia, while CU operates 543 stores in Mongolia, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. Japan has expansion plans, too, but is moving at a slower pace.
However, as weโll see, numbers alone donโt tell the whole story. Quality matters just as much. Plus, comparisons can be incomplete if they donโt consider the unique social and cultural contexts of each service.
How it all started
Combini are everywhere in Japan today, but just 50 years ago, that wasnโt the case. The story started in May 1974 with Japanโs first convenience store in Toyosu, Tokyoโ7-Eleven.
It wasnโt just the first combini. It also introduced the franchise model, where store owners managed their own shops under contract. Lawson and FamilyMart soon followed, and the concept quickly took off across the country.
Currently, the national data for combini are stronger than ever, with annual sales revenue hitting ยฅ11.6593 trillion (USD $75B), 16.18136 billion customers, and an average spend of ยฅ720.5 (USD $5.00) as of July 2024. However, the number of stores has plateaued due to Japanโs declining population.
South Korea’s arrival
Just like in Japan, South Korea’s convenience store era began with a 7-Eleven opening in Seoul in 1989. This kickstarted the rise of pyeoneuijeom in Korea. According to Yonhap News:
โSince then, convenience stores have thrived as consumer behavior shifted. With the growth of one- or two-person households and an aging population, convenience stores have continued to prosper, while department stores and large supermarkets have seen a slowdown.โ
South Koreaโs convenience store scene has skyrocketed over the past 30 years, with pyeoneuijeom now 1.5 times more common per capita than combini in Japan. GS25, CU, and 7-Eleven lead the charge.
Despite both countries grappling with aging and shrinking populations, their impact on convenience stores is strikingly different. In Japan, these trends have led to fewer stores, while in South Korea, theyโve sparked a store boom. How does that work?
Well, as mentioned, numbers alone donโt paint the full picture; the social context is key. Yonhap News reports that the surge in Korean pyeoneuijeom is a response to a tough job market.
With high job insecurity and low employment, many Koreans are turning to convenience stores as a solution. The franchise model is especially attractive: it requires a relatively small investment, offers independence, and provides support from the headquarters.
This trend has drawn more young people into pyeoneuijeom ownership. At CU, for example, 27% of store owners were in their 30s in 2015, and 9% were in their 20s. Meanwhile, the share of owners in their 50s dropped from 28% to 23%, making way for younger entrepreneurs. With a minimum franchise investment of 2.2 million yen (USD $14,000), plus some additional costs, it’s a relatively low-risk choice compared to the difficulties of securing other job opportunities.
Spot the differences
With the social context in mind, letโs explore how Korean and Japanese convenience stores differ.
One key difference is the size. Korean stores are generally smaller than their Japanese counterparts, often about half the size of a traditional combini in urban areas. This results in a more limited selection, especially for ready-to-eat items like sandwiches and onigiri, though instant noodles are plentiful. This size reduction helps keep costs down for store owners.
On the other hand, Korean convenience stores all feature eat-in spaces, a concept thatโs also growing in Japan but has faced various hurdles, slowing its expansion.
Another standout feature is the “2+1” discount promotions, which boost the convenience factor and make Korean convenience stores tough competition for supermarkets and other retailers. Plus, you’ll frequently spot cute Korean-themed designs and exciting idol collaborations in products and ads, adding a unique and appealing touch.
Naturally, South Korean convenience stores have their downsides. For instance, they all lack services like copy machines and restrooms, which can be a big drawback for everyday needs. Yet this gap is understandable given the space limitations and other social factors impacting Korean pyeoneuijeom. Once again, context is key.
Decoding success
So, whoโs the winner? The truth is, neither. Each type of store shines in its own way, reflecting the unique needs of its society.
Japanese combini are known for their top-notch service, low prices, and always being just around the corner. On the other hand, Korean pyeoneuijeom have a more supplemental role in daily life.
Japanese stores are all about the quick grab-and-go, while Korean ones are designed for a more relaxed “buy and stay” experience. It all comes down to what fits best with each societyโs needs and habits.
This straightforward approach could explain why Korean convenience stores are winning over Southeast Asia more. The regionโs slower pace might make South Korean stores feel more relatable and familiar than Japanese combini. After all, doing business abroad isnโt quite the same as doing it at home.
On top of that, Korean stores are famous for their innovation and product planning. For example, GS25 launches over 1,000 new products each year, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.
Be it as it may, both models have their charm. South Korean stores have certainly put their own spin on the โconvenience storeโ concept, while still drawing on the groundwork laid by Japanese combini. Each model has its own success story, with South Korean stores proving particularly adaptable. Regardless of preferences, both are winners for revolutionizing their service industries and sparking global interest in the concept.
Support This Writer
UJ is a small team of independent translators, journalists, and scholars. Our content covers history, culture, travel, and minority voices in Japan – all based on original Japanese sources.
Our incomeย from tours helps but is highly seasonal. The UJ Journalism Fund provides a steady stream of support that keeps us going year-round.
If you love what we do, consider making a recurring or one-time contribution to help keep the lights on.
What to read next
Can This Japanese Company Save Subway in Japan?
The Subway brand in Japan is dying. Over half of the store’s chains have closed in the past 10 years. Japan’s Watami, however, thinks it can turn the struggling franchise around. Why has Subway failed to catch on here? And can Watami succeed in making it “more Japanese”?
Port Store: When a Japanese Combini Isn’t a Combini
Ever seen a combini in Tokyo that looks sorta…fake? Congratulations – you’ve found a port store. Here’s why some Lawson and Family Mart stores in the Tokyo Bay area hide their true identity.
Entire Staff Quit At Four Nursing Homes in Japan
After being forced to work for months in horrible conditions, staff at four nursing homes in Japan quit en masse, simultaneously. How did things get so bad? And what is Japan’s government doing to safeguard care for its elderly citizens?
Sources
ใ้ๅฝใฎใณใณใใใฏๆฅๆฌใฎใณใณใใใ่ถ ใใใใจ้ๅฝใกใใฃใขใใใใใซใฏใใใใใใฒใผใ ใซใชใใชใใใฎๅฃฐใdmenu
ใคใณใใฆใณใใง็ตถ่ณใใใๆฅๆฌใฎใณใณใใใใใใชใฎใซๆฑๅใขใธใขใง้ๅฝใณใณใใใๅผทใ็็ฑใๆฑในใ
้ๅฝใณใณใใๅบ่ๆฐใฏๆฅๆฌใฎ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผๅใใใใใงๆฅ้ใณใณใใๆฏ่ผใ่ณชใจๆฅๅฎขใฏโฆใ็ฃ็ตๆฐ่
ใปใใณโใคใฌใใณ1ๅทๅบใ้ๆฅญ50ๅนด ใณใณใใใใ่ฆใๆฅๆฌ็คพไผใฏใNHK
ใณใณใใใจใณในในใใข็ตฑ่จใใผใฟใๆฅๆฌใใฉใณใใฃใคใบใใงใผใณๅไผ
้ๅฝใณใณใใใฎ้ญ ๅใจๆญดๅฒ โ ๆ ่ก่ ใฎ็ฎใใ่ฆใๆๅใจใใฌใณใใYogiyo
