Vending

South Korea vending machines dispensing gold bars

Photo: Adobe Stock

June 7, 2024

South Korea will now offer gold bars via convenience-store vending machines, according to a Bloomberg report. The machines will be located at GS Retail stores and dispense gold bars as large as 37.5 grams. The prices change daily but begin at around 88,000 won, or $64, for a half-gram bar.

"Currently we are seeing about 30 million won of sales per month," a GS spokesperson told the news outlet. "The gold vending machine draws customers' attention due to increasing demand for safe haven assets and the spreading trend of micro-investing."

As these trends increase in popularity, so does the demand for gold. Bloomberg cited a Charles Schwab report that stated 65% of Gen Z and millennials might invest in fractional shares of a company, or less than one share, demonstrating an ongoing interest in micro-investing.