每日英語跟讀 Ep.K603: 韓國便利商店見證金條販售機的需求增長

Korean Convenience Stores See Rising Demand for Gold Bars Sold in Vending Machines

Convenience stores in South Korea are witnessing a surge in the sale of gold bars through vending machines, driven by the increasing value of gold amid global inflationary pressures. GS Retail, a leading convenience store chain, reported that sales of gold bars at their stores reached $19 million in the nine months leading up to May. Since the introduction of vending machines selling gold bars in September, the popularity of this investment option has grown significantly.

在全球通貨膨脹壓力日益增加的情況下，韓國的便利商店通過自動販賣機見證了黃金銷量的激增。領先的連鎖便利商店公司GS Retail報告提到，他們的便利商店在截至5月的九個月裡，金條的銷售額達到了1900萬美元。自從去年9月開始推出販售金條的販賣機以來，這種投資方式顯而易見的越來越受歡迎。

GS Retail operates over 10,000 convenience stores throughout South Korea and offers gold bars in five different sizes, ranging from 0.13 ounces to 1.3 ounces. The prices of these gold bars are adjusted daily in accordance with the international gold market rates. The convenience and accessibility of purchasing gold bars at local stores have appealed to customers, especially the younger generation. People in their 20s and 30s have emerged as the primary buyers, viewing physical gold as a reliable investment during a time of continuous value appreciation.

GS Retail在韓國擁有超過10,000家便利商店，提供五種不同尺寸的金條，重量從0.13盎司到1.3盎司不等。這些黃金條的價格根據國際黃金市場的行情每天調整。在本地商店購買金條的便利性和低門檻的特點吸引了許多顧客，尤其是年輕一代。20多歲和30多歲的人群成為主要的買家，認為實物黃金是一種在持續升值時期可靠的投資方式。

In response to the growing demand, GS Retail plans to expand the availability of gold bars to more outlets. Currently, 29 convenience stores offer this investment option, but the company aims to increase the number to 50 by the end of the year. The smallest gold bar, weighing 0.13 ounces, is particularly popular among buyers and is priced around $225. The convenience store representative emphasized that the rising interest in gold bars is a result of people seeking a safe-haven investment to protect against inflationary risks.

為應對不斷增長的需求，GS Retail計劃將金條的供應擴大到更多的商店。目前，有29家便利商店提供這種投資方式，但該公司計劃在年底前增加到50家。最小的黃金條重0.13盎司，特別受到買家的歡迎，價格約為225美元。便利商店的代表強調，對金條的興趣上升源於人們尋求安全的投資避風港以抵禦通脹風險的結果。

According to Professor Lee Eun-hee from Inha University, the recent increase in gold prices can be attributed to factors such as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and concerns about inflation. She suggests that while purchasing a gold bar from a convenience store may seem like a fun activity, it is important to view it as a serious investment. The ease of accessibility and the familiar environment of convenience stores contribute to the popularity of gold bars as an investment option for the general public.

據來自仁荷大學的李恩熙（音譯）教授表示，黃金價格最近的上漲可以歸因於矽谷銀行的崩潰和對通貨膨脹的擔憂等因素。她建議，儘管在便利店購買金條可能看起來像一個有趣的活動，但重要的是將其視為一項嚴肅的投資。便利商店的易於接觸和熟悉的環境有助於將黃金作為普羅大眾的投資選擇而受到歡迎。

Reference article: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2023/06/16/Korea-gold-bars-vending-machines-convenience-stores/4781686942588/