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Cannabis - South Korea

South Korea
  • South Korea is projected to reach a revenue of US$484.91m in the Cannabis market by 2025.
  • The revenue is anticipated to demonstrate an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 2.14%, leading to a market volume of US$527.75m by 2029.
  • When compared globally, the United States is expected to generate the most revenue, reaching US$45.35bn in 2025.
  • In terms of per person revenues in 2025, US$67.40 are generated concerning the total population figures.
  • South Korea's evolving regulatory landscape is shaping a burgeoning cannabis market with a focus on research and pharmaceutical advancements.

Definition:
The Cannabis market covers products derived from the cannabis plant used for medical or recreational purposes. These products may include dried flowers, oils, edibles, tinctures, and topicals. Depending on the regulations in each country or state, these products are provided by dispensaries, pharmacies, and/or online platforms. They may be consumed in the form of smoking, vaporizing, eating, or applying topically.

Structure:
The market includes Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Recreational Cannabis as well as CBD Products. The Medical and Pharmaceutical Cannabis markets include products used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, mental disorders, and other medical conditions. The Recreational Cannabis and the the CBD Products markets include products used for personal enjoyment or leisure purposes. All cannabis markets include various forms of cannabis such as flowers, concentrates, edibles, and topicals.

Additional information:
Market values represent the revenues generated by retail prices paid to vendors, either directly or through distribution channels (excluding VAT). Reported market revenues include spending by consumers (B2C), companies (B2B), and governments (B2G).

Company examples: Canopy Growth Corporation, Aurora Cannabis, Curaleaf Holdings, Tilray, Green Thumb Industries, Trulieve Cannabis, Verano Holdings.

In-Scope
  • Recreational Cannabis
  • Medical Cannabis
  • Pharmaceutical Cannabis
  • CBD Products
Out-Of-Scope
  • Illegal cannabis
  • Cannabis cultivated for private use
Cannabis: market data & analysis - Cover

Market Insights report

Cannabis: market data & analysis
Study Details

    Revenue

    Notes: Data was converted from local currencies using average exchange rates of the respective year.

    Most recent update: Mar 2024

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Most recent update: Mar 2024

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Users

    Most recent update: Mar 2024

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Analyst Opinion

    The Cannabis market in South Korea has been experiencing significant growth and development in recent years.

    Customer preferences:
    South Korean consumers are increasingly seeking out alternative health and wellness products, leading to a growing interest in cannabis-based products. The shift towards more natural and holistic remedies has driven demand for CBD products in particular.

    Trends in the market:
    One notable trend in the South Korean Cannabis market is the rising popularity of beauty and skincare products infused with CBD. As South Korea is known for its innovative skincare industry, the incorporation of CBD into beauty products has resonated well with consumers looking for new and effective solutions.

    Local special circumstances:
    In South Korea, the regulatory environment around cannabis remains strict, with recreational use being illegal. However, the government has taken steps to legalize medical cannabis under certain conditions, paving the way for the growth of the market. This unique regulatory landscape has created opportunities for companies to enter the market with medical cannabis products.

    Underlying macroeconomic factors:
    The growing acceptance of CBD products in South Korea is also influenced by broader global trends towards cannabis legalization and destigmatization. As more countries around the world embrace the medicinal benefits of cannabis, South Korea is following suit, albeit with caution and regulation in place. This alignment with global attitudes towards cannabis is shaping the market landscape in the country.

    Global Comparison

    Most recent update: Mar 2024

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Methodology

    Data coverage:

    Data encompasses B2B and B2C enterprises. Figures are based on companies' revenues, funding values and global consumer survey data. Revenues include retail, sales and taxes.

    Modeling approach / Market size:

    Market sizes are determined by a Top-Down approach, based on a specific rationale for each market market. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use financial reports, third-party data. Next, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations such as tobacco spending per capita, medical product spending per capita, consumer spending and consumer spending for recreation purposes, population. This data helps us to estimate the market size for each country individually.

    Forecasts:

    In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the particular market. For example, S-Curve function, ARIMA time series model and exponential curve function.

    Additional Notes:

    The market is updated twice per year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered at a country-specific level. GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.

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    Cannabis: market data & analysis - BackgroundCannabis: market data & analysis - Cover

    Key Market Indicators

    Notes: Based on data from IMF, World Bank, UN and Eurostat

    Most recent update: Jan 2025

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Explore more high-quality data on related topic

    Cannabis market worldwide - Statistics & Facts

    Cannabis or marijuana, the psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant is growing in popularity around the globe, both for recreational and medicinal uses. While there are many countries that have legalized cannabis in some capacity for medical purposes, only a handful have done so for recreational use. Even though cannabis is not federally legal in the United States, the combined legal states represent the largest market in the world. After the U.S., Canada, which legalized cannabis nation-wide in 2018 represents the next largest market. In 2021, a new coalition government was formed in Germany that indicated that the legalization of cannabis was on their agenda. Germany would be the largest legal adult-use market in Europe and would act as a test case for other countries on the continent considering the merits of legalization.
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