S.Korea’s mobile app spending hits record high in H1 2023

South Korean consumers' spending on mobile apps recorded the highest-ever in the first half of this year.

Mobile data and analytics platform data.ai announced the 2023 first-half mobile app status on Thursday, revealing that global Android smartphone users spent a total of 2.5 trillion won on app usage during the period, making it the highest amount in history.

The mobile app market reached $67.5 billion (87 trillion won) with South Korea ranking fourth after the United States, Japan and China.

"The top markets are showing a pattern of rapid growth through 2021, a decline last year, and a rebound this year," data.ai explained. "After a post-COVID-19 downturn, the mobile market is rebounding."

In the first half of this year, South Korea's app spending reached $3.73 billion (4.8 trillion won), which is a 19% increase compared to the same period last year, and a 10% growth compared to the same period in 2021, which was the highest in history due to COVID-19.

Among the spending, games accounted for 81.5% ($3.04 billion). NCSOFT Corp.'s Lineage M, Lineage W, and Lineage 2M ranked 1st, 3rd, and 5th respectively. Kakao Games Corp.'s Odin and WeMade's Night Crows secured the 2nd and 4th spots.

General apps like YouTube, KakaoPage, and Naver Webtoon were ranked 1st to 3rd in the content-related app category.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com