Dairy import value South Korea 2017-2023

In 2023, the value of dairy imports to South Korea stood at around 349.56 million U.S. dollars, up from the roughly 369.63 million U.S. dollars in the previous year. While this year showed a slight decrease, the previous increase in dairy product imports was most likely due to the rising demand for dairy products in South Korea which can not be satisfied by only domestic dairy production.

 Most popular dairy products

Among the most consumed dairy products in South Korea are fluid and processed milk, fermented milk products, and cheese, which has become a popular topping for various Korean dishes. Milk was often seen as a snack given to children in school during breaks or even used as a meal substitute, with flavored milk being more popular than non-flavored milk. According to a survey, the most popular brand of milk was Seoul Milk, which was also reflected in the market share of leading milk brands.

Do South Koreans prefer domestic milk products?

According to a survey on important criteria when purchasing milk, buying domestic milk was important for around a fifth of the population, less so for consumers with a rather high or lower income. Of those aware of domestic milk and the “K-milk” label, the large majority preferred to purchase domestic milk rather than imported milk.