According to a “Survey on Dishwashing Culture and Sink Bowl Preferences” conducted by BAEKJO SINK Co., Ltd., a specialized manufacturer of stainless steel sink bowls, consumer preference was found to be high for “single-bowl, right-angled style sink bowls” and for “large, oversized sink bowls” that can hold a large amount of dishes.
BAEKJO SINK conducted the “Survey on Dishwashing Culture and Sink Bowl Preferences” among 206 visitors at “KOREA BUILD 2019,” held at KINTEX from March 20 to 24.
With regard to the dishwashing environment, the most common kitchen layout in respondents’ homes was the “straight-line type” at 52%, followed by the “L-shaped” type (31%), the “U-shaped” type (12%), and the island type (5%). As for the amount of dishes per meal, “3 to 8 items” including rice bowls and soup bowls was the most common at 43%, followed by “9 or more items” (33%) and “3 or fewer items” (13%).
Regarding dishwashing methods, 44% of respondents answered that they usually “take the basin (washing bowl) out of the sink bowl” when doing the dishes, followed by “keep the basin (washing bowl) inside the sink bowl” (39%) and “close the drain cover, fill the sink bowl with water, and let the dishes soak” (17%).
In addition, the survey found that sink bowls were purchased “automatically when moving into an apartment (32%)” and “through an interior contractor (31%).”
The sink bowl shape consumers most wanted was the “single-bowl, right-angled style sink bowl” (44%), followed by the “single-bowl, round style” (30%), the “all-in-one style with a countertop” (16%), and the “two-bowl, round style” (10%). Furthermore, more than half of respondents (60%) said they preferred a “wide, large, oversized sink bowl,” while the proportion favoring the standard medium-size style (35%) was also not low.
On this point, BAEKJO SINK analyzed that in Korea’s food culture, where soup and side dishes are eaten together, large cooking utensils such as pots and frying pans are frequently used, leading to a higher preference for wide, single-bowl sink bowls over two-bowl types. In terms of design as well, there has been a growing tendency to prefer the sleek and simple square style of the single bowl over the round style.
BAEKJO SINK developed Korea’s first handmade “square sink bowl” in 2005, taking an early lead in the market. At the time of development, the “square sink bowl” was perceived as the exclusive domain of cooking professionals, but its popularity gradually rose among general consumers as well, and starting in 2015 the company launched the “GD Series” of square press sink bowls in a variety of sizes.
At “KOREA BUILD” in 2019, the company launched the QUIET960, a single-bowl-type press square sink bowl boasting Korea’s largest water capacity (75 liters). Consumers can choose, according to their needs, between two finishing materials: a “special embossed material” that minimizes everyday scratches and a European-style “circular round finish material.”
Among additional sink bowl features that respondents would like to see added, a food waste disposal function (38%) received the most votes, while a “storage rack for holding detergent containers or scrubbers (34%)” was chosen as the most needed accessory feature.
An official from BAEKJO SINK said, “This survey was conducted to gain a detailed understanding of consumers’ dishwashing environments and needs,” adding, “Through the survey, we were able to hear our customers’ voices up close, and based on these results, we will not only develop sink bowl designs that can capture consumers’ hearts, but also improve the inconveniences of kitchen culture and systems and introduce a variety of kitchenware items that satisfy our customers.”