"Domestic retail sales growth rate of 0.4% next year...Convenience stores and supermarkets are in reverse growth."

Amid growing domestic political and economic uncertainties, the domestic retail market is expected to grow only 0.4% next year.

This is the lowest number since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 66.3% of respondents said the market will be more negative next year than this year, according to a survey of 300 retail distributors on the outlook for the distribution industry next year.

For reasons, "shrinking consumer sentiment" accounted for the largest share at 63.8%, followed by continued high prices and increased household debt burden due to high interest rates.

Online shopping was the highest at 2.6% for next year's growth forecast by business type, followed by hypermarkets at 0.9% and department stores at 0.3%.

Convenience stores and supermarkets, on the other hand, recorded -0.3% and -0.7%, respectively, forecasting a reverse growth.

The KCCI said concerns about a slowdown appeared to be reflected ahead of the launch of the "Second Trump," which advocates U.S. priority and protectionism amid a delay in the recovery of domestic demand.