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Sales of condoms in convenience stores and super markets have plummeted since the new year began. Industry insiders attribute the plunge to myths about the year of golden pigs, which comes every 600 years. Fortune tellers say that babies born in the year of golden pigs will lead wealthy and prosperous lives, and, fortune tellers say, the year 2007 is one of those years. The drop in condom sales could be a sign that couples are trying to conceive a child to be born in this lucky year. If that's the case, then condom sales should stay sluggish until April, since babies conceived until as late as March will arrive before Feb 7 next year, when the year of golden pigs ends.
GS Retail said that condoms sales from Jan. 1 to Jan. 18 at 2,500 GS 25 convenience stores nationwide were down 15 percent from the previous year. Sales of the contraceptives also dwindled 7.8 percent on-year at six GS Marts in Seoul and the capital area during the same period. Shinsegae E-Mart said that sales of condoms fell 15 percent from the previous year.
Meanwhile, sales of personal hygiene products have surged. Dental products like toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash have sold 12.1 percent more than last year at GS Marts, while sales of body wash products and shampoos grew 10.7 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively. It is unusual for sales of body washes and shampoos to increase in winter, but industry figures point again to the golden pigs. After all, they say, if you're going to be making love, you're going to want to look and smell your best.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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