"The demand for laundry services does not decrease during vacation season."
On August 4, at the Lundrigo Global Campus in Dangjeong-dong, Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, laundry items submitted by customers were continuously moving along the processing line. Kim Min-ji, director of the Living and Eating Company, which operates Lundrigo, pointed to a pile of laundry and stated, "Demand for laundry remains steady even during the vacation season."
The Gunpo smart factory, which opened in 2022, is a key facility for Lundrigo, addressing the growing demand for contactless laundry services amid the rise of single-person households. The facility handles the entire process of sorting, washing, inspecting, packaging, and dispatching laundry items requested through a mobile application. It spans 11,900 square meters (approximately 3,600 pyeong) and can wash up to 270,000 items per day.
The process begins on the fifth floor. A camera above the workbench captures images of the laundry, and artificial intelligence (AI) identifies the type and material of the clothing. Workers then attach an electronic tag (RFID) containing this information to each item. Kim explained, "Customers can check the photos of their laundry upon arrival and the progress of the washing process in real-time through the mobile app."
Afterward, items are sorted and moved to different floors based on their type and washing method. The fourth floor handles regular washing and dry cleaning, while the third floor focuses on shirt washing and ironing. Once the laundry is completed, it is packaged and sent to the first-floor dispatch area for delivery. Kim noted, "We complete the washing and deliver items, from clothing to bedding, within 1 to 2 days after the request, and the satisfaction rate is high, with a reuse rate nearing 70%."
Single-person households make up a significant portion of Lundrigo's clientele, accounting for 36% of users. For these households, which often have limited living space and insufficient laundry and drying facilities, managing laundry can be burdensome. This is why Lundrigo's fully contactless service, from pickup to washing and delivery, has gained popularity. Since launching its contactless laundry service in 2019, the number of users has surpassed 1.25 million households, with cumulative orders and laundry volumes exceeding 5.6 million and 40 million items, respectively. The company's growth has been rapid, with revenues rising from 13 billion won in 2021 to 49.3 billion won in 2023, and reaching 63.5 billion won last year.
The contactless laundry service market is expected to continue growing. According to Samjeong KPMG Economic Research Institute, the domestic laundry market is projected to expand from 5.1 trillion won in 2021 to 6.6 trillion won by 2026. During this period, the share of contactless services is expected to increase from 0.8% to 20%.
Industry players are also ramping up their efforts. Clean Topia introduced late-night pickup and delivery services last February in response to the rise of single-person households. Lundrigo is diversifying its offerings and expanding its service areas to enhance customer engagement. A Lundrigo representative stated, "We will continue to expand our services to help customers resolve the inconveniences of laundry through mobile solutions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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