The monthly amount marked the third highest, following 6.25 trillion won set in December last year and 6.21 trillion won in November, while the on-year gain was the slowest clip since August 2015, when it marked 12.8 percent growth.

Purchases made through smartphones, tablets and other mobile gadgets jumped 28.4 percent on-year to 3.49 trillion won, accounting for 58 percent of overall online sales in January.

Online bookings for travel and movie tickets jumped 15.2 percent to 1.08 trillion won from a year earlier on the back of the four-day Lunar New Year's holidays.

Online sales of foodstuffs soared 34.7 percent on-year to 779.8 billion won, with those of cosmetics growing 24.6 percent to 498.4 billion won. (Yonhap)