Overtime, stress or too much time on your smartphone...
let me add extra hot weather to that.
Anyhow, one or more of these factors may be affecting your sleep... and numbers show it.
More Koreans have developed sleep disorders over the years... and more are turning to
aromatic candles, functional pillows and mattresses -- anything to help get a good night's rest.
Well, sleep-deprivation or deprivation of good quality sleep has created a whole new
market of its own.
Multi-billion dollar sleep aid industry: Our News Feature tonight with Oh Sooyoung.
If you've missed a good night's sleep and find yourself yawning throughout the day,
you could grab a lunch hour nap at your desk -- but that's not the only option.
"We get more than 150 visitors a day.
Office workers visit frequently during their lunch hours, and in the afternoon, there are
mostly couples who want to relax together."
Dimmed lights and gentle music humming in the background as you sink into a massage
chair...
it's the perfect setting for drifting off.
"It's my fifth time here.
I do a lot of overtime work so I'm always tired.
The massage chairs are great.
After I rest here for a bit, I feel energized."
It's just one of the many sleep cafes that's cropped up to serve a rising population of
sleepless Koreans.
In fact, the number of people with sleeping disorders is on the rise,... reaching 415-thousand
in 2014, a jump of 41 percent in just five years.
That's why so many Koreans are looking for ways to help them fall asleep.
Sales of sleep-inducing items -- like specialized pillows and mattresses, aromatic oils and
sleep masks -- grew fourfold last year on one of Korea's biggest shopping websites.
To meet the growing demand for bedtime solutions,... this sleep care company helps customers find
the perfect pillow and mattress -- customized for their bodies and their sleeping habits.
After having your neck measurements taken and consulting with a professional, you can
test the recommended essentials.
"You can compare it to spending a day wearing shoes that fit you perfectly.
Eight hours with a pillow that matches your cervical vertebrae and you can sleep like
a log.
It's about creating the conditions for a fast and deep sleep."
Aside from that, a growing number of wearable health devices now offer simple sleep tracking
functions.
But this local start-up has developed a device that acts as a personal coach for getting
a better night's sleep.
Compatible with your smartphone, the gadget keeps track of your daily exposure to light
and the number of steps you've taken -- two conditions for determining sleep quality.
"Most sleep aids or wearable devices don't tackle the root of sleep disorders, which
is an inconsistent lifestyle and damage to the body's circadian clock.
So we developed a wearable device that offers personalized coaching to help restore and
maintain one's circadian rhythm.
We aim to help users develop a healthy sleeping habit."
With the range of products hitting the market, the size of Korea's sleep care industry has
grown to just under 1-point-8 billion U.S. dollars a year.
It's a miniscule amount compared to the established markets in the U.S. and Japan,... but experts
say the prospects for growth are promising.
"In terms of jobs, therapists could consult and help resolve psychological problems and
concerns related to sleep.
And it's not limited to the medical sector.
Korea's traditional herbs and fragrances could be marketed as sleep-inducing products.
Also, there are many areas for collaboration in IT.
Abroad, they have incense or music that's automatically adjusted through the internet
of things.
So that's a possibility for Korea."
With the budding growth potential, the Korean government has taken interest in the industry,...
and aims to nuture professional sleep care therapists this year.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Sleep hygiene evaluation Daytime activities Poor
Daytime exposure to light Enough Evening activities Enough
Evening light Enough Night light for sleep Poor
Total sleep time Poor
Sleep pattern graph
Total sleep time 6 hours 56 mins.
Light sleep 4 hours 19 mins.
Deep sleep 2 hours 37 mins.