South Korea

Tissue and hygiene navigated a complex landscape in South Korea in 2023, shaped by key macro variables. Inflation, which was a global phenomenon, strongly impacted the industry. Rising raw materials costs squeezed profit margins and forced…

In the aftermath of COVID-19, retail tissue in South Korea was initially poised for decline, along with the return to activities outside the home; however, the category demonstrated resilience in 2023. Contrary to expectations, retail tissue recorded…

In 2023, retail adult incontinence in South Korea saw another year of significant volume and current value growth, primarily propelled by the nation’s rapidly ageing population. As South Korea stands amongst the fastest ageing societies globally, the…

In the face of persistent declines in the birth rate, companies within nappies/diapers/pants in South Korea are confronted with unique challenges. To counteract these demographic hurdles, businesses are strategically leveraging the premiumisation…

While overall volume sales in menstrual care in South Korea may have shown a slight dip in 2023, a dynamic transformation is quietly unfolding. Closer examination reveals a notable surge in the demand for alternative products such as tampons,…

In the wake of inflationary pressures, there has been a surprising reluctance amongst individuals to engage in activities outside the home, including dining out, which contributed to lower than expected growth in consumer foodservice in 2023. This…

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a heightened awareness of hygiene among South Koreans, with a stronger dedication to household cleanliness and a more conscientious approach to toilet hygiene. This elevated interest has prompted the…

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…