South Korea

Surface care recorded double-digit current value growth in 2023, driven by two main factors. One significant contributor is the heightened emphasis on hygiene standards in the post-pandemic era. As individuals and businesses prioritise cleanliness…

Shoe polish is the largest category in polishes and faced a weaker performance in 2023 following the strong rebound in sales during 2022. Demand for shoe polish rebounded strongly in 2022, as professionals returning to offices opted for formal attire…

Laundry care witnessed a stronger performance in retail volume and current value growth in 2023. Many products experienced price increases due to inflation, whilst the heightened levels of hygiene post-pandemic further accelerated the release of…

Home insecticides experienced a decline in volume sales in 2023, as demand for such products weakened, partly due to the perception that they use harsh chemicals. Despite this, South Korea witnessed an increase in mosquito populations, as there was…

In 2023, home care in South Korea saw robust current value growth, propelled by heightened consumer awareness of hygiene levels since the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers are also showing a growing preference for sophisticated and specialised home care…

Dishwashing witnessed notable current value growth in 2023, propelled by a surge in demand for automatic dishwashing products and a modest increase in current value sales of hand dishwashing. Urbanisation in South Korea is expanding the number of…

In 2023, bleach experienced another year of moderate volume and current value growth, driven by factors such as inflation and heightened awareness of hygiene and cleanliness in the post-pandemic era. Demand for disinfectant bleach remains steady in…

In 2023, air care witnessed moderate single-digit growth in current value terms, due to the shifting perspective of air care as a component of self-care, particularly among the younger generations. This signifies a departure from viewing air care…

In 2023, tanghulu (sugar-coated fruits on a bamboo skewer) emerged as the most prominent snacking mega-trend in the entire food industry in South Korea. The popularity of tanghulu began with mukbang YouTubers who focused on ASMR content, creating…

In 2022 and 2023, independent self-service cafeterias demonstrated double-digit growth in retail value sales. The primary driver behind this success was the popularity of local Korean cuisine buffets, which provide a rich variety of options, and…

In alignment with the trends observed in 2022, the majority of limited-service restaurants (LSRs) witnessed a surge in menu prices during 2023, which was attributed to the repercussions of escalating raw materials costs and labour expenses. In 2023,…

Traditional buffet-style family restaurants faced significant losses during COVID-19, due to concerns about close contact with many people. In particular, chained Korean buffet brands such as Season’s Table, which were popular amongst…

Despite optimistic expectations of rapid recovery in consumer consumption following the COVID-19 pandemic, transaction growth in overall consumer foodservice in South Korea experienced a slowdown in 2023, exacerbated by prolonged inflation. The…

In 2023, the significant growth in sales of drive-through outlets was noteworthy. This method of fulfilment showed a triple-digit growth rate during COVID-19 in 2020, and still sustained double-digit current value growth in 2023. From a corporate…

Specialist coffee and tea shops is a mature category in South Korea, but continued to show dynamic growth in 2023. Previously, players in specialist coffee shops changed high unit prices, but advances in coffee machines led to standardisation of…

Packaging trends in South Korea showcase a dynamic landscape, driven by consumer preferences and environmental concerns. In the realm of gift-giving, there is a growing inclination, especially among the younger demographic, towards European fruit…

The official end of the pandemic in 2023, and the full resumption of offline classrooms in schools and extracurricular academic institutions has been continuing to support students’ demand for stationery, and is also expected to sustain the retail…

While in 2022 sales of traditional watches posted strong double-digit current value growth, driven by consumers’ high demand for luxury goods, 2023 is set to witness a strong slowdown in growth, as the unstable global political and economic…

Continuing high inflation and financial constraints derived from the unstable global economy have discouraged consumer spending on discretionary items, which is set to result in slower retail volume and current value growth for personal accessories…

Ongoing high inflation and economic difficulties have been discouraging consumer spending on luxury products and discretionary items, including jewellery. Nonetheless, despite the expectation of a slight decline in retail volume terms, in current…