Bodyfriend logs 52% sales surge over Chuseok as shoppers splurge on premium massage chairs

Healthcare robot maker Bodyfriend posted more than 50 percent growth in sales over this year's Chuseok holiday, driven by a surge in demand for premium products priced at 6 million won ($4,410) or more — a segment that more than tripled its share of total sales in a single year as consumers sought high-end gifts for their parents.

Bodyfriend said Wednesday that sales over the four-day Chuseok holiday from Thursday to Sunday rose 52 percent compared with the same period last year. Unit sales over the same stretch climbed 22 percent.

The gap between revenue growth and unit volume reflects a sharp shift toward higher-priced models. Products priced at 6 million won or above accounted for 43.9 percent of total sales during this year's Chuseok holiday, up 30 percentage points from 13.9 percent a year earlier — more than tripling their share in just one year.

Medical device products also stood out, in keeping with the holiday tradition of gifting parents items that support their health. The Medical Pharaoh 2026 was the top-selling model, accounting for 33.2 percent of total units sold, while the Medical Phantom Robot took a 10.9 percent share.

Products incorporating generative AI massage technology also ranked among the top sellers. The DaVinci AI Pro accounted for 11.3 percent of total units sold and the Quantum AI Pro took 5.2 percent — both launched less than a month before the holiday.

A holiday gift demand survey Bodyfriend conducted through Opensurvey found that healthcare robots and massage chairs ranked first among items consumers most wanted to receive for Chuseok, with 44 percent of respondents selecting that product category.

Bodyfriend entered the massage chair business in 2007 and in 2022 introduced a healthcare robot with independently moving legs, steadily expanding its product lineup since. The company has recently focused on building out a premium range that combines robotics with AI.

"Customer demand to give products featuring AI and robotics technology as gifts translated directly into higher sales this Chuseok," a Bodyfriend official said. "Even after the holiday, we continue to see customers visiting for family gifts and everyday health management."