코로나19가 불러온 뉴노멀 시대…"비대면의 일상화"<br /><br />The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a new era of non-contact services,... as customers look for ways to reduce the risk of infection.<br />People are now having their laundry done and even delivered in a non-contact way.<br />And so-called "cyber showrooms" enable people to house hunt online.<br />Kim Jae-hee has the details.<br />COVID-19 shutdowns, schools shifting to online classes, and people working from home,... have made spending trends in South Korea shift to revolve around people's home life.<br />According to Statistics Korea, online shopping sales saw a continuous increase this year,... and look to be a promising sector in the post-COVID-19 economy.<br />"Not only are people having food or beverages delivered, some people are even having their laundry done in a non-contact way, by having them washed and delivered to their doorsteps."<br />Customers use a mobile app to request a laundry pickup, then simply leave their dirty clothes in front of their door.<br />"It's really comfortable because I can get my laundry done without worrying about virus transmissions, and I don't have to go to the cleaners myself. I think I'll keep on using this service even after the pandemic is over."<br />The app has seen a huge growth in sales this year.<br />"Our sales have more than doubled since January and February. Currently, our sales are around 910-thousand U.S. dollars per month."<br />With non-contact delivery being preferred amid the pandemic, some places have even started using robots for delivery.<br />A convenience store at LG Science Park in Seoul, has recently began using an AI robot to deliver its items.<br />Other industries are also looking to turn this health crisis into an opportunity.<br />Amid heightened social distancing measures, some construction companies have introduced cyber model houses.<br />People can now browse online for houses, looking through videos of the interior of a model house uploaded on the internet.<br />"Although there were some complaints about not being able to visit in-person, we've generally received many positive responses from customers, saying they can browse through houses comfortably at home."<br />As South Korea looks to make the transition to a digital economy as part of its New Deal initiative, some industries have already adapted to a digital future.<br />Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.<br />
