Shinhan Card Big Data Research Center Analyzes 'Meconomy' Trends: Confirming Growth in Health and Appearance Care Markets
Recently, the 'Meconomy' trend has caught the attention of consumers as it gains traction as a culture valuing health, appearance, and mental well-being, enhancing personal value. The Shinhan Card Big Data Research Center has keenly analyzed this phenomenon and presented the potential for growth in related markets.
Changes in Running and Appearance Management
Shinhan Card noted a noticeable increase in interest in running over the past few years. According to the data, mentions of running-related keywords have increased by about 4.5 times, with growing interest in specialized fields like 'trail running' and 'night running.' Use of specialty running stores has increased by 203% compared to the previous year, with spending rising by 216%. Notably, those in their 30s accounted for 44.8% of total use, with a 5.9 percentage point increase in female users, narrowing the gender interest gap.
Additionally, as the trend of enhancing appearance competitiveness spreads, interest and spending on 'slow aging' have also increased. Users of franchise dermatology clinics who made purchases over 1 million won have increased by 31.2% over the past two years. Specifically, the growth rate among men in their 30s was the highest at 73.7%, underscoring the broad recognition of the necessity for appearance care across genders.
Changes in Perceptions of Mental Health
Another axis of the Meconomy trend is the expanded interest in mental health. Visitors to psychiatric clinics in the first half of 2025 increased by 11.4% compared to the same period in 2023. Keyword analysis related to 'psychological counseling' revealed clear generational differences. People in their 20s showed interest mainly in career or romantic issues, while those in their 30s focused on child-rearing, marital, and workplace issues. The 40s were interested in adolescent counseling, and those over 50 showed more interest in depression and feeling powerless, confirming a wide range of mental health needs by age group.
"This analysis allowed us to confirm the high interest in healthy lifestyles and self-management," mentioned the Shinhan Card Big Data Research Center.
This trend demonstrates that Meconomy is becoming a basis for improving individual physical and mental value beyond simple consumer preferences. Accordingly, it is expected that related industries will pay more attention to developing consumer-tailored services and products.
Future Prospects of the Meconomy Trend
With consumers of various ages and genders investing in personal health, appearance, and mental stability, the Meconomy trend is expected to continue evolving. The potential for expansion in the service industry, which proposes data-based personalized lifestyle solutions, is particularly high. Furthermore, the trend of securing social competitiveness through self-development and appearance care is expected to continually drive market expansion.
These changes imply that Meconomy is entering as a key value that drives overall consumer behavior beyond a specific generation. As related products or services emerge in more diverse industries, consumer-centered market shifts are expected to accelerate further.
In Conclusion
The Meconomy trend is establishing itself as a central flow that meets diverse individual needs, with continued growth in interest toward health, appearance, and mental health. This trend will lead to structural growth in the market, providing a foundation for offering tailored choices to various consumers.
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