The National Statistical Office(NSO) Tuesday listed Korea's six most promising industries based on an analysis of social and demographic statistics. Using a term from a popular business book, these so-called "blue oceans" are untapped and uncontested markets, which provide little or no competition for anyone who would dive in. The NSO, taking the jargon another step further, combined the words "blue" and "consumer" to create "bluesumer," the customers of these markets. Here are the NSO's predicted bluesumer areas.

Mobile Entertainment

The NSO found that Koreans more than 10 years old were on the go an average of one hour and 40 minutes every day in 2004, a five-minute increase from 1999. And people were found to be walking five minutes more for exercise. This represents a huge market for entertainment services that people can enjoy while on the move. Some products for these mobile consumers include personal DMB(digital multimedia broadcasting) TVs, PMPs (portable multimedia players), portable game players and wireless headsets.

Security Services

Crime is up in Korea, including the most dangerous crimes of rape and murder. With that sad fact in mind, 68 percent of females over 15 were found to harbor a serious fear of crime, particularly women living alone -- 11 percent of all households in the nation. As a result, the NSO predicts that the security services market will emerge as one of the most promising industries.

Stress Relievers

With increased levels of stress among today's office workers, more and more tired people are looking for places to unwind, like tea shops, massage parlors, spas and yoga clinics. Park Jae-hang, head of the brand marketing institute of Cheil Communications, said that workers will see increased stress in the future, even if work hours decrease. He predicts the emergence of businesses that can relieve both physical and psychological stress.

Nanny Services

With a whopping 16.8 percent increase in the number of working mothers in their 30s~50s over the last six years, nanny services are growing sharply. The hot new trend is for "edu-sitters," who not only play with and care for children over three, but also provide educational lessons. In addition, smart time-saving gadgets such as robot vacuums and washing machines that also dry clothes are garnering popularity.

Low-Calorie Health Foods

Korea's per capita fat consumption was up to 88.6g in 2005, a 10.6 percent growth from 2000. But as more and more Koreans become alarmed by growing waist lines and concerned with trans fat and other food hazards, there is an increasing trend toward healthy, low-calorie and low-fat food products. This market is expected to grow quickly in the future.

(englishnews@chosun.com )