Beer sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2014-2023

In 2023, beer accounted for around 39.86 percent of the total alcoholic beverage sales value in South Korea, a slight increase from around 39.85 percent in the previous year. The share of beer in total alcoholic beverages sales value has declined over the years. 

The South Korean beer market 

South Korea belongs to the biggest alcohol markets in the world. The annual value of the domestic sale of alcoholic beverages has again been on the rise since its drop in 2014. Beer continues to be the most favoured type of alcohol in the country compared to traditional alcohol, wine and spirits. Despite this preference, the domestic sales value of beer in South Korea has not completely recovered from 2014. Currently, the South Korean beer market is dominated by domestic brands, with Cass of Oriental Brewery leading the market.

 Alcohol consumption in South Korea

In South Korea, the consumption of alcohol is rather frequent. In some social and professional situations, sometimes it is even expected. Overall, the frequency of alcohol consumption has been relatively steady and more than half of Korean adults drank at least one alcoholic beverage a month. This could also be attributed to hoesik, a subculture of modern drinking in South Korea in which colleagues meet up after work to eat and drink together. The annual consumer expenditure on alcoholic beverages per capita was forecast to rise in the following years.