Functional gum products are revitalising South Korea’s chewing gum category in 2025, with Lotte Wellfood’s Jolmeum Beonjjeok gum leading the charge. Unlike traditional caffeine-delivery methods such as coffee or energy drinks, which are consumed in liquid form, this gum offers a chewable alternative designed specifically to combat drowsiness and enhance alertness.

Chocolate confectionery in South Korea is feeling the impact of environmental factors in 2025. Driven by climate change and crop disease, global cocoa bean supply has declined, leading to significant price increases in 2024 and 2025. The surge in raw material costs has resulted in a double-digit year-on-year increase in unit prices, particularly in 2025. As a result, the retail value of the chocolate confectionery category has grown.

Despite overall growth in retail value, sugar confectionery in South Korea is experiencing a decline in volume terms in 2025. This is largely due to weakening demand for traditional offerings such as mints, boiled sweets, and toffees, caramels and nougat, all of which are steadily losing ground.

In 2025, savoury snacks in South Korea continues to grow in terms of both volume and retail value. Within this, puffed snacks is declining. By contrast, other subcategories including nuts, seeds and trail mixes; potato chips; tortilla chips; rice snacks; vegetable, pulse and bread chips; popcorn, and seafood snacks are enjoying positive growth.

In 2025, sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks in South Korea is recording only slight growth in both retail value and volume terms, driven mainly by health-oriented subcategories such as fruit snacks, snack bars, and plain biscuits. While these products still account for a relatively small proportion of the overall category, their gradual expansion aligns with a broader shift towards healthier lifestyles among South Korean consumers.

Retail volume sales of snacks in South Korea continued to grow in 2025, but the pace of expansion has slowed compared to 2024. This is amid further price hikes across major categories, driven in part by rising input costs such as cocoa. While the headline figures suggest modest growth, the local market is undergoing a structural shift in how and why consumers engage with snacks.

In 2025, ice cream in South Korea is seeing some growth in both retail value and volume. However, the growth rate remains relatively flat, and this stagnation can be attributed to two key factors. First, the rise of zero-calorie and low-sugar ice cream is proving a sensational development. However, these products are contributing to internal cannibalisation. Instead of attracting new consumers, the zero versions of existing products are primarily being chosen by the original brand’s existing cus

In 2024, total volume sales of beer in South Korea saw a solid increase, with a better performance than in the previous year. In 2022 and 2023, off-trade sales declined and on-trade sales increased, in a post-pandemic correction as consumers returned to drinking outside the home. However, in 2024 this trend stabilised, with off-trade and on-trade sales seeing similar growth rates. Nevertheless, on-trade sales did not return to the pre-pandemic level even in 2024, as a higher number of consumers

Total volume sales of wine decreased strongly in South Korea in 2024, reflecting a challenging year for the category in South Korea. Decline was primarily driven by economic uncertainty, changing consumer preferences, and the shift towards alternative alcoholic drinks. As inflationary pressures affected disposable incomes, consumers became more price-sensitive, reducing their spending on mid-range and premium wines. Meanwhile, the appeal of wine began to wane swiftly due to changing trends, with

Total volume sales of spirits increased in South Korea in 2024, reflecting a steady recovery in consumer demand after a difficult year in 2023, despite economic challenges. Growth was driven by rising interest in premium spirits, the home consumption trend, and expanding product diversity. Consumers increasingly sought high-quality, internationally recognised spirits, shifting their focus from traditional local spirits to premium whiskies and craft spirits. Additionally, the growing cocktail cul

In 2024, overall alcoholic drinks in South Korea saw low growth in total volume terms and underwent various shifts. One noteworthy trend in 2024 was the rise in mindful drinking, and growing demand for low alcohol and no alcohol beverages. Instead of simply drinking to get intoxicated, more consumers are placing emphasis on taste and experience, often factoring in health and lifestyle considerations. Responding to this shift, companies have been actively launching new non-alcoholic or low ABV pr

Total volume sales of RTDs (Ready-to-Drink alcoholic drinks) increased by an exceptional 85% in 2024, making it the most dynamic category within alcoholic drinks in South Korea, although it also remained the smallest, apart from cider/perry, which had negligible sales in 2024. The explosive growth of RTDs can be attributed to changing drinking habits, increased demand for convenience, and the popularity of cocktail-style beverages. Younger consumers of legal drinking age and women in particular

This report visually explores everyday habits and behaviours which reflect consumers' beliefs and values, linking behavioural trends with purchase and consumption habits. 

Volume sales of cigarettes in South Korea decreased in 2024. This decline was largely driven by the continuous fall in smoking prevalence, intensified health awareness campaigns, and the expansion of government regulations restricting smoking in public spaces. The popularity of alternative nicotine products, particularly heated tobacco devices and e-vapour products, further diverted consumers from traditional cigarettes, accelerating the market contraction.

In 2024, the South Korean tobacco market was significantly influenced by new products and environmental changes. In particular, the explosive growth of heated tobacco contributed to a decline in the consumption of traditional cigarettes. Persistent high inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened smokers’ price sensitivity, driving some to seek more affordable or efficient means of nicotine intake. At the same time, the spread of illegal and unregulated liquid e-cigarettes that circumve

Volume sales of cigars and cigarillos increased sharply in 2024. This growth was driven by the rising consumer interest in premium and lifestyle products, particularly among younger adults seeking alternative smoking experiences. The expansion of imported premium cigar brands, along with the increasing popularity of small-sized cigars and cigarillos for casual smoking occasions, contributed significantly to the overall volume increase. Additionally, better availability through specialised retail

The strong performance of heated tobacco and smokeless products in 2024 reflects South Korea’s rapidly evolving nicotine consumption landscape. Consumers continue to move away from traditional cigarettes in favour of products perceived as less harmful or more modern. Heated tobacco continues to benefit particularly from increased marketing by leading players and new device launches with improved heating technology. E-vapour product growth has been more modest, affected by regulatory uncertainty

Spectacles in South Korea is expected to experience steady value growth in 2025, maintaining a similar pace to the previous year, while volume growth will improve slightly, turning from negative to positive. This growth is largely driven by increasing demand for functional lenses and the rising prominence of myopia control spectacle lenses. In particular, the demand for progressive lenses continues to rise, as younger age groups adopt these lenses due to the widespread use of electronic devices

The value sales of eyewear in South Korea in 2025 are projected to rise, albeit at slower growth pace compared to previous years. While factors such as the increasing prevalence of myopia, including paediatric myopia driven by South Korea's digital-centric lifestyles, continue to support the market, the impact is beginning to stabilise. Additionally, the gradual lowering of the age of onset for presbyopia contributes to steady, though more moderate, volume growth in overall eyewear.

Contact lenses and solutions in South Korea is projected to sustain growth in 2025, albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. Daily disposable lenses is anticipated to remain notably strong, driven by the product’s advantages - including superior convenience, enhanced hygiene, and ease of use - which align with consumer preferences.

Sunglasses in South Korea is projected to achieve solid value sales rises in 2025. Though anticipated growth reflects a slowdown compared to the impressive double-digit growth recorded in 2024 - driven by a surge in post-pandemic demand – sunglasses continues to enjoy a stable growth trajectory. The previous year’s extraordinary performance was fuelled by pent-up demand as consumers refreshed their eyewear collections, influenced by a renewed focus on outdoor lifestyles and fashionable accessori

Consumer Lifestyles provides valuable insights into the key attitudes and current perspectives of consumers, and how these influence their purchasing and consumption behaviors. It quantifies consumer behaviors, preferences, and motivations, aligning them with broader trends.

Gardening in South Korea witnessed significant value growth in 2024, driven by government initiatives and rising consumer interest in floriculture and cultural events. The South Korean government actively supports horticulture through programs like the Flower Road initiative, which aims to beautify urban spaces with floral displays, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of cities for locals and tourists. This initiative has sparked greater public interest in gardening and floriculture. At the same time

In 2024, value sales of home furnishings witnessed strong growth in South Korea driven by lifestyle and economic trends. With most of the population living in high-rise apartments, particularly in densely populated regions like Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, there was rising demand for compact, multifunctional furniture that maximises limited space while aligning with the minimalist, modern interiors favoured by South Koreans. The government’s push for housing stability through renovation subsidie