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South Korea is one of the biggest markets for alcoholic beverages in the world – it is not a surprise given that drinking alcohol is often encouraged, if not even demanded, in both social and professional situations. Over the years, consumers at legal purchasing age spent an increasing amount per capita on alcohol. Beer was the most preferred type of alcohol, followed by Soju.
What is Soju?
South Korea's spirit market was among the 15 largest spirit markets worldwide in 2023. The most popular distilled spirit by far in South Korea is Soju: Soju is a South Korean distilled spirit and its sales makes up for notable amount of the total alcoholic beverage sales value in South Korea. Soju is a popular choice because of its relatively cheap price despite ongoing price increases and high availability. A 350ml bottle of Soju is often available for around two to three U.S. dollars. Companies have started selling flavored Soju to attract even more customers, and it has also found great popularity overseas.
Wine market on the rise
Another topic worth looking into is the South Korean wine market. While imports have been increasing, industry reports show that the market benefits from growing health concerns among South Koreans, especially young female consumers. Red wine is considered to be the healthier choice than beer or spirits. Traditional South Korean rice wines, like makgeolli are increasingly considered outdated for younger consumers.
Drinking behavior of South Koreans
More than two thirds of South Koreans of legal purchasing age stated that they drank alcohol at least once a year. There is also a rather consistent share of adults who were considered high-risk drinkers, meaning they drank too much alcohol more than twice a week. In South Korea, alcohol has a high status in both social and professional settings and follows a strict etiquette rooted in Confucianism. One subculture of modern drinking culture is called hoesik. The term refers to a type of gathering in which people, usually colleagues, meet up after work and eat and drink together. Since companies often require their employees to work long days it became a subculture of South Korean work life. This custom is often criticized because employees might get forced to drink excessively and reports of harassment by their drunken colleagues or supervisors during hoesik have been filed. Due to changes in both law and company politics, the practice is getting milder.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Nina Jobst Research expert covering South Korea 
Key insights
- Alcoholic beverages domestic sales
- 5.62tr KRW
Detailed statistics
Alcoholic beverages domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
- Alcoholic beverages share in the food market
- 7.63%
Detailed statistics
Alcoholic beverage sales share in food market South Korea 2013-2022
- Number of bars and pubs South Korea
- 115k
Detailed statistics
Bar and pub number in South Korea 2009-2019
Get more insights
Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic
Further recommended statistics
Overview
6
- Premium Statistic Alcohol consumption among adults in South Korea 2010-2022
- Premium Statistic Alcoholic beverages domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Alcoholic beverage domestic sales value South Korea 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Alcoholic beverage production volume South Korea 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Types of alcohol frequently consumed South Korea 2014-2023
Overview
- Premium Statistic Alcohol consumption among adults in South Korea 2010-2022
Alcohol consumption among adults in South Korea 2010-2022
Share of adults drinking alcohol in South Korea from 2010 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Alcoholic beverages domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
Alcoholic beverages domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won)
- Premium Statistic Alcoholic beverage domestic sales value South Korea 2022, by type See AlsoSoju Is the Best-Selling Liquor in the World. Do You Know What It Is?Top 5 Makgeolli FAQ: Your Questions Answered! - The Sool CompanyTop 10 Most Popular Drinks in Korea | Korean Alcoholic & Soft Beverages | Oriental MartKorean Alcoholic Drinks: A Beginner's Guide
Alcoholic beverage domestic sales value South Korea 2022, by type
Domestic sales value of alcoholic beverages in South Korea in 2022, by type (in billion South Korean won)
Alcoholic drink manufacturers & processors in South Korea 2022, by province
Number of alcoholic beverage manufacturing and processing establishments in South Korea in 2022, by province
- Premium Statistic Alcoholic beverage production volume South Korea 2022, by type
Alcoholic beverage production volume South Korea 2022, by type
Production volume of alcoholic beverages in South Korea in 2022, by type (in 1,000 tons)
- Premium Statistic Types of alcohol frequently consumed South Korea 2014-2023
Types of alcohol frequently consumed South Korea 2014-2023
Share of alcohol types frequently consumed in South Korea from 2014 to 2023
Beer
4
- Premium Statistic Beer sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Beer retail value sales South Korea 2018-2027
- Premium Statistic Sales revenue of domestic craft beer market South Korea 2015-2021
- Premium Statistic Leading beer manufacturer in South Korea Q1 2021, by market share
Beer
- Premium Statistic Beer sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2013-2022
Beer sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2013-2022
Share of beer in total alcoholic beverages sales value in South Korea from 2013 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Beer retail value sales South Korea 2018-2027
Beer retail value sales South Korea 2018-2027
Retail value sales of beer in South Korea from 2018 to 2022, with forecasts until 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Sales revenue of domestic craft beer market South Korea 2015-2021
Sales revenue of domestic craft beer market South Korea 2015-2021
Sales revenue of the domestic craft beer market in South Korea from 2015 to 2021 (in billion South Korean won)
- Premium Statistic Leading beer manufacturer in South Korea Q1 2021, by market share
Leading beer manufacturer in South Korea Q1 2021, by market share
Market share of major beer manufacturers in South Korea in the first quarter of 2021, by market share
Soju
6
- Premium Statistic Soju sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Soju retail value sales South Korea 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Soju domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
- Premium Statistic Soju export value South Korea 2015-2022
- Premium Statistic Soju export volume South Korea 2015-2022
- Premium Statistic Leading soju manufacturers market share based on retail revenue South Korea 2022
Soju
- Premium Statistic Soju sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2013-2022
Soju sales share in the alcoholic beverage market South Korea 2013-2022
Share of Soju in total alcoholic beverage sales value in South Korea from 2013 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Soju retail value sales South Korea 2013-2022
Soju retail value sales South Korea 2013-2022
Retail value sales of soju in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Soju domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
Soju domestic sales value South Korea 2013-2022
Domestic sales value of Soju in South Korea from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion South Korean won)
- Premium Statistic Soju export value South Korea 2015-2022
Soju export value South Korea 2015-2022
Value of soju (traditional Korean liquor) exports from South Korea from 2015 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Soju export volume South Korea 2015-2022
Soju export volume South Korea 2015-2022
Volume of soju (traditional Korean liquor) exports from South Korea from 2015 to 2022 (in 1,000 metric tons)
- Premium Statistic Leading soju manufacturers market share based on retail revenue South Korea 2022
Leading soju manufacturers market share based on retail revenue South Korea 2022
Market shares of leading soju manufacturers based on retail sales revenue in South Korea in 2022
Wine
4
- Premium Statistic Wine retail value sales South Korea 2018-2027
- Premium Statistic Wine import value South Korea 2013-2023
- Premium Statistic Wine import volume South Korea 2023, by country of origin
- Premium Statistic Wine import value South Korea 2023, by country of origin
Wine
- Premium Statistic Wine retail value sales South Korea 2018-2027
Wine retail value sales South Korea 2018-2027
Retail value sales of wine in South Korea from 2018 to 2022, with forecast up to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Wine import value South Korea 2013-2023
Wine import value South Korea 2013-2023
Value of wine imported to South Korea from 2013 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Wine import volume South Korea 2023, by country of origin
Wine import volume South Korea 2023, by country of origin
Volume of wine imported to South Korea in 2023, by country of origin (in million kilograms)
- Premium Statistic Wine import value South Korea 2023, by country of origin
Wine import value South Korea 2023, by country of origin
Value of wine imported to South Korea in 2023, by country of origin (in million U.S. dollars)
Consumer behavior
5
- Premium Statistic Per capita expenditure on alcohol South Korea 2018-2027
- Premium Statistic Share of adults drinking alcohol at least once per month South Korea 2010-2022
- Premium Statistic Alcohol consumption frequency South Korea 2014-2023
- Premium Statistic Heavy drinking among alcohol drinkers in South Korea 2022, by age group
- Premium Statistic Alcohol consumption among middle and high school students South Korea 2022, by grade
Consumer behavior
- Premium Statistic Per capita expenditure on alcohol South Korea 2018-2027
Per capita expenditure on alcohol South Korea 2018-2027
Annual consumer expenditure on alcoholic beverages per capita at legal purchasing age in South Korea from 2018 to 2027 (in U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Share of adults drinking alcohol at least once per month South Korea 2010-2022
Share of adults drinking alcohol at least once per month South Korea 2010-2022
Share of adults drinking alcohol at least once per month in South Korea from 2010 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Alcohol consumption frequency South Korea 2014-2023
Alcohol consumption frequency South Korea 2014-2023
Frequency of alcohol consumption in South Korea from 2014 to 2023 (in days)
- Premium Statistic Heavy drinking among alcohol drinkers in South Korea 2022, by age group
Heavy drinking among alcohol drinkers in South Korea 2022, by age group
High-risk drinking among alcohol drinkers in South Korea in 2022, by age group
- Premium Statistic Alcohol consumption among middle and high school students South Korea 2022, by grade
Alcohol consumption among middle and high school students South Korea 2022, by grade
Share of students in middle and high school who have consumed alcohol within the previous month in South Korea in 2022, by grade
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