본 연구는 소비자의 로하스 소비의식과 로하스 상품 소비 수준을 분석함으로써 우리나라의 로하스 현황을 파악하고 향후 발전 가능성을 예측하여 보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 서울ㆍ경기지역에 거주하고 있는 20세~60세 미만의 남녀 소비자 1000명으로부터 수집된 자료를 사용하여 상관분석, t-test, 분산분석, 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 주요 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 우리나라 소비자들은 어느 정도 로하스 소비의식을 가지고 있으나 그 수준은 높은편은 아니며, 이타적 성향은 로하스 소비의식에 유의한 영향을 미친다. 소비자의 이타적 성향의 평균점수가 보통 수준인 것으로 볼 때, 이러한 상태가 지속되면 향후 로하스 소비가 지속적으로 발전할 가능성은 낮아 보인다. 둘째, 가장 많이 소비되는 로하스 상품은 에너지 효율 등을 고려한 전자제품이며, 자연식품과 건강식품, 세제 등에서의 소비도 활발한 편인데, 웰빙 트렌드로 인해 자연식품 및 건강식품, 세제 등의 시장의 규모가 커져있는 영향을 받았을 것이라고 예상된다. 이외에 화장품, 의류, 대체의료, 대체교통, 재생제품 등의 소비 수준은 낮은 편이며 에코투어,심신조화프로그램, 예방적 건강관리는 소비자들의 건강관리와 관련한 항목으로 소비 빈도가 비교적 높은 것으로 평가된다. 사회책임투자, 자연에너지 등의 이용은 매우 저조하다. 셋째, 사회 인구학적 변인 및 건강관련 변인, 그리고 로하스 소비의식에 따라 로하스 상품 소비 수준에 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 가장 영향력이 큰 변수는 로하스 소비의식이고, 다음으로 성별과 연령이 로하스 상품 소비에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 로하스 소비의식이 높을수록, 연령이 증가할수록, 여성보다 남성의 로하스 상품 소비수준이 높다. 분석결과 바탕으로 로하스 소비의 성장을 위해 다음과 같은 시사점을 제언하였다. 첫째, 기업들은 다양한 로하스 상품들을 개발하여 시장에 내놓아야 하고, 이를 지원하는 환경프로그램 및 정책이 시행되어야 한다. 둘째, 가장 중요한 것은 로하스 소비의식이며 로하스 소비의식을 높이기 위해서는 소비자들로 하여금 고비용과 불편을 감수하더라도 로하스 소비를 해야 할 필요성과 이타심을 일깨울 필요가 있다.
The lifestyles of people who pursue well-being, a state of pursuing the general health as well as happiness and giving values to the improved quality in an individual’s health and life, can be said to pursue healthy, happy, beautiful, and composed lives(Soo Min Park, 2006).
This pursuance of a sound and healthy lifestyle created a sense of responsibility not only for individuals or family but also for the society as a whole, developing the new trend called LOHAS(Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability)(Yong Joo Kyun, Hung Kyu Gong, Kyang In Byun, 2006).
At this point of time in which the significance of environment, sustainable consumption and economy are emphasized, the LOHAS is a necessary lifestyle that improves industrial development and consumers’ consciousness. The products that have become the targets of this concept of LOHAS have increased, varying from detergents, foodstuff to construction materials and clothes.
The purposes of the study were to investigate the current status of the LOHAS consumption and to predict the future of the LOHAS consumption in Korea based on the analysis of the consumer’s consciousness of the LOHAS consumption and the consumption of the LOHAS products. A survey of 1,000 adult consumers living in Seoul and Kyung-ki area was conducted and correlation analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis were applied for the data analysis.
The major findings were as following. First, Korean consumers were aware of the LOHAS consumption and the average level of the consciousness of the LOHAS consumption was not quite high. The most influential variable on the level of the consciousness of LOHAS consumption was altruism and the effects of the socio-demographic variables were not significant controlling consumer’s level of altruism. Since the level of altruism was modest, it was not predicted that the LOHAS consumption were actively progressed in the future.
Second, the most widely used LOHAS product was energy saving electronic appliances and the consumption levels of the natural and healthy food, natural soaps and detergents were relatively high, of which the product markets have been expanded due to the well-being consumption trend. The LOHAS consumption levels of the cosmetics, and clothes, alternative medical care, alternative transportation, and recycled products were low, because these are still in the stage of introduction yet and customers lack recognition of the products. On the other hand the use of eco-tour, mind-body harmony program, preventive health care were found to be spread widely, but the investment on socially responsible investing and the use of natural energy were rarely found.
Third, the level of consumption of the LOHAS products was significantly associated with socio-demographic variables, health condition variables, and the level of consciousness of the LOHAS consumption. The most influential variable was the level of consciousness of the LOHAS consumption, then sex, age. The level of consciousness of LOHAS was higher, older, men had a higher level of consumption of LOHAS products. The research shows that consciousness of the LOHAS is the most important variable. People of higher education and altruism turned out to have higher rates of consciousness. Through this, in order to spread the LOHAS, efforts to increase the interests and awareness of the LOHAS based on the customers’ altruism need to be made. The LOHAS has to accept the high cost and inconvenience of consumption behaviors. It also involves aspects that do not fit with values such as convenience, immediacy, fun, all of which pursued by these day’s markets. Because consciousness of the LOHAS consumption has its roots on altruistic consumption that focuses on the responsibility of a society as well as environment rather than the egoistic consumption, altruism should be developed to become a public resource that can support our future society although it exists in the personal area.
Based on the results, the implications for the progress of the LOHAS consumption were suggested.. First, various LOHAS products were needed to be developed and marketed by the enterprises, and the public policies to support these enterprises’ activities were necessary.
The LOHAS consumption has been partially implemented in the energy-saving electronic products as well as foods which were easy to choose for customers and is still in the stage of introduction in other parts of consumptions. In order to spread the LOHAS consumption, not only the customers’ transition in consciousness but also the various supply of LOHAS products in markets is important. Enterprises need to develop various LOHAS products that are accessible to customers and the government should announce a new policy that supports this. Thus, there needs to be efforts in both the consumptive and productive aspects. Differentiated products that arouse voluntary needs from customers and active publicity activities are needed to develop the LOHAS consumption.
Second, the most important thing was to make consumers aware of the importance of the LOHAS consumption despite its inconvenience and high-price. As eco-friendly products and well-being, the LOHAS has the possibility to develop into a new, upgraded trend by coinciding to sustainable lifestyles that promote ethical consumption. A transition in consciousness to practice the LOHAS is required in such a rapidly changing society. There needs to be more detailed studies on LOHAS consumption as well.