In 2022, the domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages stood at approximately 5.6 trillion South Korean won. That year, the alcoholic beverage market in South Korea was led by beer, followed by soju. Those two are also often consumed together as somaek (soju + maekju(beer)).
Beer market in South Korea
The domestic beer industry in South Korea has been growing during the past years, and accordingly, the retail sales value of beer in the market was expected to keep on growing. Although South Koreans liked to try new sorts of beer, the import of beer recorded a new low in 2022 since 2017. Beer imports had first started to notably delined in 2019 and 2020 due to the boycott of Japanese products, which was one of the largest suppliers of beer to South Korea. Despite the openness to try foreign beer, the most preferred beer brand was a domestic one.
Alcohol consumption during COVID-19
Drinking alcohol plays a big part in the social life of many South Koreans. In their work-life, hoisiks (drinking parties after work) are still a common practice among most companies, but even without those meetings, alcohol consumption did not decrease. On the contrary, the frequency of consuming alcohol had increased in 2020 when most meetings were not possible due to COVID-19 social distancing measures. Moreover, a survey that year found that most South Koreans preferred to drink beer at home.
Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022
(in trillion South Korean won)
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Sales value in trillion South Korean won
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MFDS (South Korea). (July 28, 2023). Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/964750/south-korea-alcoholic-beverages-domestic-sales-value/
MFDS (South Korea). "Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won)." Chart. July 28, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/964750/south-korea-alcoholic-beverages-domestic-sales-value/
MFDS (South Korea). (2023). Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/964750/south-korea-alcoholic-beverages-domestic-sales-value/
MFDS (South Korea). "Domestic Sales Value of Alcoholic Beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in Trillion South Korean Won)." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Jul 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/964750/south-korea-alcoholic-beverages-domestic-sales-value/
MFDS (South Korea), Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/964750/south-korea-alcoholic-beverages-domestic-sales-value/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won) [Graph], MFDS (South Korea), July 28, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/964750/south-korea-alcoholic-beverages-domestic-sales-value/