CreatripTeam

Korea’s fashion and apparel sector reported weak results for Q3–Q4 as an extended late summer delayed autumn product sales and domestic consumer demand softened. Major retailers kept revenues broadly steady but saw profitability slide due to increased promotions and inventory burdens. Samsung C&T’s fashion division posted a 2.8% revenue rise to KRW 445 billion but operating profit fell 42.9% to KRW 12 billion. Hansome (The Handsome) saw sales dip 1.5% and operating profit plunge 59.0%. Some firms like F&F benefited from strong overseas (notably China) growth, partially offsetting domestic weakness. Companies are shifting assortments toward heavy outerwear—downs and coats—as October’s cooler weather boosts demand. Analysts expect roughly 1% market growth for the year and say a normal winter could enable a gradual recovery in Q4.