South Korean Electronics Firms Ride Wave of Surging AC Demand

As of August 7th, 2025, South Korea is witnessing a significant spike in air conditioner sales, driven by the country's sweltering summers. According to the article, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, two of the nation's electronics heavyweights, have reported a remarkable increase in their domestic AC sales.

In the first quarter of 2025, Samsung's domestic home AC sales grew by 50% compared to the same period last year, while LG Electronics recorded a 60% jump in its domestic sales. This surge in demand has occurred despite the government's estimate that 98% of households in the country of 51 million people already have air conditioning.

The companies attribute this trend to their successful marketing of improved cooling and energy efficiency, as well as the introduction of AI-powered AC models. "We expect the favorable trend in global air conditioner sales to continue, driven by growing demand for eco-friendly and high-efficiency products due to ongoing climate change," Samsung told Reuters.

The scorching temperatures in Seoul, which reached a record high of 37.8 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) in early July, have been a significant factor in driving this surge in AC sales. Longer and stronger heatwaves are a global phenomenon, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that cooling systems will account for a significant portion of the growth in global power demand over the next decade.

The IEA expects 50% of households to have air conditioners by 2035, up from 36% in 2022, further fueling the growth of the global air conditioner market, which is projected to reach $257.2 billion by 2032, growing at an average of 6.3% annually.