South Korea

Discounters remained only a small retail channel in South Korea in 2023, and continued to see a decline in outlet numbers in this year, although returned to slight current value growth. In South Korea, major retailers have embraced private label…

Retail volume sales of dishwashers in South Korea are marginally declining in 2023 for a second consecutive year. This can be attributed to subdued consumer sentiment due to economic stability, which is resulting in many South Koreans refraining from…

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…

After seeing minimal current value growth in 2023, dog food is set to record another year of low single-digit growth in South Korea in 2024. Due to the slowdown in growth in the dog population, and the economic downturn, there have been low growth…

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…

In 2023, the global supply chain of edible oil raw materials has faced significant disruptions due to climate change and geopolitical complexities, impacting availability in South Korea. The country's reliance on external sources has made it…

Energy drinks is set to see dynamic double-digit off-trade and on-trade volume growth in 2023. On-trade sales were hit hard by the pandemic, and despite strong growth, sales are not expected to return to the 2019 level in 2023. However, the off-trade…

Consumer demand has been shifting from manufactured goods back towards services. Due to this, value sales of experiential luxury grew by 13% to amount to KRW642 million in 2023, boosted by wealthier individuals resuming their normal activities,…

Demand for standard eye care, the largest category in overall OTC eye care in South Korea, continues to improve in 2023, in line with heightened exposure to digital screens in everyday life, and a return to out-of-home activities, including the…

In 2024, overall eyewear in South Korea is set to see current value growth. The prevalence of vision impairments is on the rise in Korea, with an increasing number of people affected by presbyopia, myopia, and hyperopia. The overall increase in…

The landscape of card transactions in South Korea is undergoing a remarkable transformation marked by a gradual decline in cash usage. This paradigm shift is primarily driven by the widespread adoption of mobile financial services, a trend that has…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…