South Korea

Total packaging volumes declined in processed meat and seafood for a second year in South Korea in 2023, although this was a continued normalisation process after the pandemic, and volumes remained higher than in 2019. Chilled processed meat…

Although growth slowed from the previous year, mass beauty and personal care maintained solid current value growth in South Korea in 2023. Mass colour cosmetics and general purpose body care were amongst the categories that saw healthy growth. Mass…

Premium beauty and personal care maintained solid but slowing current value growth in South Korea in 2023. Within premium beauty and personal care, fragrances, BB/CC creams, hand care, and lipstick demonstrated robust growth, amongst others. These…

Despite the low birth rate in South Korea, current value growth was maintained in baby and child-specific products in 2023. Parents are becoming increasingly savvy in terms of purchasing products that suit their children, regardless of whether they…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks in South Korea is set to maintain retail volume and current value growth in 2024, with growth anticipated for all the main categories. In particular, remarkable growth is expected for cereal bars and…

Although it saw a decline in packaging volumes in 2023, PET bottles remained the predominant pack type in sauces, dips and condiments packaging in South Korea in 2023. PET bottles offer convenience and practicality, making them suitable for a wide…

Cigars and cigarillos in South Korea has shown significant increases in retail volume sales for four consecutive years, with double-digit growth seen in 2023. One of the main drivers behind the growth in consumption of cigars and cigarillos is a…

Air treatment products in South Korea is exhibiting a mixed performance. Cooling appliances are mostly experiencing positive demand due to global warming and exceedingly hot summers in the country, whereas air purifiers and humidifiers are…

Post-pandemic, packaged food players are making efforts to meet various consumer needs due to the increasing preference for home-cooked meals. This movement involves developing and launching multiple food products in various formats. For example,…

The idea of health and wellness varies at a category level within staple foods. For instance, high fibre products that use whole grains have a strong position in rice, baked goods, and breakfast cereals. Sales of grain-added rice, such as brown rice,…

During the pandemic, South Korean consumers became more conscious of the need for healthy hydration and the reduction of sugar consumption. This led to dynamic growth for natural bottled water and “water-like” natural RTD tea. Although decline was…

Plant-based dairy experienced a notable increase in sales over the review period, and this is set to continue in 2023. In South Korea, plant-based dairy is primarily dominated by plant-based milk, as plant-based yoghurt and cheese are still in their…

In 2023, drinking milk products in South Korea is expected to continue to thrive in current value terms, building on the positive growth seen in the previous year. However, this growth trajectory varies significantly at the category level, and the…

As pandemic-related social distancing regulations have been largely lifted in South Korea, and consumers have resumed activities such as returning to the workplace, there has been increasing demand for personal care appliances. The return to normalcy…

In 2023, overall butter and spreads in South Korea is expected to continue to show positive growth in retail current value terms, although the growth rates vary across different categories. While inflation has contributed to the overall sales…

From 2022, alcoholic drinks companies in South Korea were required to post nutritional information, including calorie content, on the labels of their products in accordance with legislation introduced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. As a…

Retail and business volume sales of computers and peripherals declined significantly in 2022, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. One of the key factors contributing to decline is that the replacement cycle was advanced during the peak of…

Category players are customising their products to cater for various formats demanded by consumers sensitive to new lifestyle trends, such as South Korea's millennials and Generation Z, to maximise convenience. For instance, one of the habits among…

In 2023, there continues to be a noticeable revival in retail and foodservice volume sales of rice in South Korea. While the latter channel was negatively impacted by foodservice closures and restrictions during the pandemic, a declining trend in…

In 2022, health and wellness hot drinks in Korea saw a trend towards consumers looking to reduce potentially harmful ingredients, rather than adding extra benefits. This led to growing consumer demand for better for you products, such as low/no sugar…