South Korean media: "This is not the中国制造we know!" On April 5, South Korean media The Seoul Economic Daily published an article stating that "Made in China" has changed and is no longer the cheap and poor-quality products people once thought of. Chinese home appliances equipped with the latest technology have successfully landed in the South Korean market. This year is expected to be the "inaugural year" for Chinese brands to fully attack the South Korean market. Roborock Technology, Xiaomi, BYD, and other Chinese brands have held new product launch events and announced the establishment of South Korean subsidiaries, expressing confidence in capturing the South Korean market. South Korean brands have particularly underperformed in the robotic vacuum cleaner sector. Generally speaking, considering brand awareness and after-sales service, if the price difference is not significant, South Korean consumers tend to choose domestic brands. However, this is not the case in the robotic vacuum cleaner sector. A consumer who purchased a Roborock robotic vacuum cleaner stated, "Roborock is the most famous brand in the robotic vacuum cleaner industry. People around me recommended it as a wedding appliance, so I bought it. Its battery life is durable, and it's very intelligent, so everyone around me is satisfied." Although the price difference is not significant, the reason people choose Chinese robotic vacuums lies in their performance. Social networks also feature comments comparing the functions of Roborock robotic vacuums with those of South Korean brands. This preference has been proven by data. As of the first half of 2024, Roborock robotic vacuums hold a 46.5% share of the South Korean market. Specifically, in the high-end market above 1.5 million won (approximately 7,500 RMB), they have a 65.7% share. This demonstrates that the perspective on Chinese products is shifting from "price" to "performance." Xiaomi recently released its top smartphone model, "Xiaomi 15 Ultra." With a global starting price of 2.28 million won, it far exceeds the prices of Samsung Electronics and Apple's top models. By jointly developing technology with the German camera brand Leica and raising screen brightness above the levels of Galaxy or iPhone top models, they announced their entry into the high-end market. At the largest consumer electronics show "CES 2025" held in January, South Korean business figures directly praised China's technological strength, stating, "China's hardware has advanced to the point where it can rival South Korea's." The Chinese electric vehicle brand BYD, which entered the South Korean market this year, also attracted attention. Emphasizing both cost-performance and technological innovation, BYD recently began selling its small electric vehicle ATTO 3 in South Korea. ATTO 3 has sold over one million units globally, proving its market competitiveness. Test drive reviews in South Korean car-related online communities mentioned, "I was surprised by the cost-performance," and "entry-level electric vehicles are hard to find alternatives for." BYD has overtaken Tesla to become the world's largest electric vehicle seller, reshaping the global electric vehicle market. Energy market research company SNE analyzed that "BYD is improving its brand awareness in countries like Europe by emphasizing technical prowess and price competitiveness. This strategy is evolving beyond simply expanding sales volume to maximizing the overall competitiveness of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem." Professor Kim Yi-seong of Tongde Women's University analyzed, "In the past, there was a strong perception that Chinese products were of low quality, but recently, with a significant increase in technical capabilities, consumers are beginning to choose based on performance. Thanks to government support and deregulation, the speed of innovation in the technology field is faster than in South Korea. Design innovations for Chinese products are accelerating, and the perception of South Korean consumers is changing. A series of positive reviews on social media prove this." Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1828528543314121/ Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author.