KCCI points to trend in consumer market 'S.N.A.K.E' this year

Survival, Next, artificial intelligence, K-culture, and economic consumption were cited as keywords that give a glimpse into this year's consumer market trends.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry published the "2025 White Paper on the Distribution Industry" and selected "S.N.A.K.E" as one of the top five keywords in the consumer market this year, the Year of the Blue Snake.

The KCCI first predicted that the "survival" competition in the market to occupy the limited consumer market will become fiercer as the international economy and consumer market stagnation are expected to continue.

As a result, the market is expected to accelerate the development of a "new" business model (Next Biz model), and it is expected that there will be attempts to optimize the cost structure by actively utilizing "AI".

In addition, while products fused with "K-culture" contribute to the creation of new markets, "recession consumption" (Economic Consumption), which values prices due to economic slowdown and rising uncertainty, is expected to spread in all directions.

"As competition for survival has become fiercer due to the economic downturn and rising uncertainties, retailers should find next-generation business models and profit models," the KCCI said. "We need to find a growth breakthrough in AI and K-culture and actively respond to the price-oriented consumption trend."