South Korea

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…

Home improvement in South Korea maintained dynamic current value growth in 2023, with a double-digit increase, maintaining the trend seen for the previous two years. Bathroom and sanitaryware maintained strong growth in home improvement in 2023, due…

Home furnishings in Korea saw another year of current value decline in 2023, although this was slower than in the previous year. However, not all categories saw a declining trend; for instance, barbecues witnessed solid value growth in 2023. This was…

In spite of the slight growth spikes seen in home care packaging in 2020 and 2021 as a result of home seclusion and heightened health awareness due to the COVID-19 virus, this industry’s unit volumes continued to grow in 2022. Growth was slightly…

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…

Volume sales in home audio and cinema are led by home cinema and speaker systems. In 2023, retail volume sales in this category are set to grow, continuing a trend which was seen throughout the review period. With limited mobility outside of the…

In 2023, home and garden in South Korea saw low current value growth, but faced mixed performances across various categories, influenced by the broader economic landscape and shifting consumer preferences. Real GDP growth slowed in 2023, impacting…

The popularity of functional foods for health that have received “individual recognition” from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for specific functionality and safety has been gradually increasing in South Korea. In 2022, these products surpassed…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Health and beauty specialists saw fairly static outlet numbers in South Korea in 2023, after several years of decline, but saw a second year of growth in current value terms. The largest channel in value terms, pharmacies, maintained growth in South…

Headphones recorded another year of strong retail volume growth in 2022, driven by the dominant TWS earbuds category, and although demand for wireless earphones continued to fall rapidly, wireless headbands also saw a solid positive performance. The…

Hair care saw slow current value growth in South Korea in 2023. Sales and growth in premium hair care in South Korea lagged behind mass, due to the strong presence of mass brands which are effectively positioning themselves in various hair care…

Historically, gum experienced long-term stagnation or decline, with even more significant falls in sales seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, sales of gum in South Korea saw a resurgence in 2023 following the end of the pandemic, and growth is…

General merchandise stores maintained growth in both outlet numbers and current value sales in South Korea in 2023, with increases seen for both variety stores and department stores, although the latter remained by far the larger channel. Department…

Gardening in South Korea witnessed a slight current value decline in 2023, although many categories maintained solid growth. For instance, gardening equipment experienced increasing sales, due to the rising popularity of gardening as a recreational…

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…

Fragrances maintained double-digit current value growth in South Korea in 2023, with premium fragrances continuing to overwhelmingly dominate, and also seeing the strongest growth in this year. The super-premium segment in fragrances is primarily…

In 2023, sports footwear continues to post healthy sales growth, as South Korea enters an endemic era where all social restrictions, including the mask mandate, have been fully lifted and consumers have returned to normal outdoor activities. As…

Retail volume sales of food preparation appliances are declining for a second consecutive year in 2023. This is a trend evident across the category, with juice extractors experiencing the steepest decline. This is being driven by several factors, but…

Value sales of fine wines/champagne and spirits grew by 8% to total KRW657.4 billion in 2023, boosted by consumers’ appetite for experiences and enjoyment after the pandemic. Enjoying a drink with a meal at home or when relaxing remains a key pastime…