In South Korea, the consumer electronics market is witnessing a surge in miniaturization, driven by the increasing number of single-person households. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the number of single-person households reached more than 10 million at the end of April, a 2.04% increase from the previous year, now comprising 41.8% of all households in the country. This demographic shift is prompting companies to produce and sell smaller, more affordable appliances tailored to this growing market segment.
The appeal of small appliances lies in their efficient use of space. These products are typically one-third to one-half the size of traditional appliances designed for larger families, making them ideal for compact living spaces, especially in the kitchen. Small appliances are popular among consumers who want a spacious kitchen with various appliances and furniture, such as refrigerators, dining tables, dishwashers, and gas stoves. This is particularly true for single-person households living in smaller homes such as studio apartments. Another advantage of small appliances is their low price.
Athome, a home life solution company, exemplifies this trend. Last year, the company introduced a miniaturized food waste disposer aimed at one- to two-person households. The device, named MINIX The Flender Food Waste Disposer, launched in October and has since generated approximately 17.4 billion won in sales as of June 13. During a live broadcast by CJ OnStyle from June 1 to 4, Athome sold 5,900 units, generating 2.5 billion won in revenue.
Cuckoo Electronics is another company that is capitalizing on this trend. In 2021, Cuckoo introduced a compact rice cooker for small households and followed up with a one-pot induction range in December 2022. Its subsidiary, Cuckoo Homesys, launched the slim 2024 Inspure Window Air Conditioner, about 11% smaller than its predecessor. Sales of Cuckoo’s small rice cookers rose by over 10% year-on-year from January to May, while its one-burner induction cookers saw a staggering 900% increase. The Insure window air conditioner also experienced a 311% month-on-month sales increase in May.
A Cuckoo representative said, “As Korean society rapidly personalizes, we are developing products that reflect consumers’ growing preference for practicality, space efficiency, and affordability when choosing home appliances.”
This miniaturization trend is also popular in Japan, which saw similar demographic changes earlier. Japan also embraces small appliances, emphasizing ‘cost-effectiveness’ or efficiency in time use, known as ‘Time Performance.’ These products allow users to save time compared to conventional appliances.
Suh Yong-gu, a business administration professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, highlighted the global nature of this trend. “The proportion of single-person households is increasing globally, not only in Korea and Japan but also in the U.S. and Europe. All home appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators, are expected to become smaller and faster. Though currently cheaper than those for larger households, they will likely become more premium and expensive in the future,” he said.
