Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Korea produced 3.39 million tons of milk (raw milk)
- In 2023, South Korea produced 3.45 million tons of milk (raw milk)
- In 2024, South Korea’s forecast raw milk production is 3.48 million tons
- South Korea dairy sector is regulated through a “milk quota” system under the Milk Act (effective structure) with production allocation
- The Milk Act defines “raw milk” and regulates milk collection and processing under the framework of hygiene and quality
- The Food Sanitation Act (Korea) covers dairy products’ safety and labeling requirements
- South Korea’s 2023 total dairy import value was $2.3 billion
- South Korea’s 2022 total dairy import value was $2.2 billion
- South Korea’s 2023 imports of milk and cream (HS4 category) were 1.0 million tonnes
- In 2022, per-capita dairy consumption in South Korea was about 95 kg milk equivalent
- In 2023, per-capita dairy consumption in South Korea was about 97 kg milk equivalent
- South Korea’s per-capita milk consumption (fresh milk) was about 48 kg/year in 2022
- South Korea dairy industry employment is measured within livestock/farming and food processing sectors; the food manufacturing sector employs hundreds of thousands (broad measure)
- South Korea has a large dairy processing industry with multiple plants operated by major firms
- Seoul Dairy Association statistics show number of processing facilities under the Korean dairy supply chain
South Korea’s dairy grows steadily, driven by quotas, imports, and rising milk consumption.
Production & Supply
Production & Supply Interpretation
Policy & Regulation
Policy & Regulation Interpretation
Trade (Imports/Exports) & Pricing
Trade (Imports/Exports) & Pricing Interpretation
Demand & Consumption
Demand & Consumption Interpretation
Industry Structure, Employment & Companies
Industry Structure, Employment & Companies Interpretation
References
- 1fas.usda.gov/data/south-korea-dairy-and-products-livestock-and-products-annual-0
- 2fao.org/3/ca4711en/CA4711EN.pdf
- 3fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QL
- 4fao.org/faostat/en/#data/TP
- 5milk.or.kr/en/Stats/StatsData
- 17milk.or.kr/en/main
- 6elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/eng_ver_info.do?hseq=5715
- 7elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/eng_ver_info.do?hseq=53355
- 8elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/eng_ver_info.do?hseq=53633
- 15elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/eng_ver_info.do?hseq=53889
- 16elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/eng_ver_info.do?hseq=59019
- 32elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/eng_ver_info.do?hseq=59206
- 9mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_89/view.do?seq=30142
- 10mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_89/view.do?seq=32783
- 11mfds.go.kr/english/board/boardDetail?menuId=1054&boardId=96&boardSeq=17641
- 18mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=37787
- 19mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=29708
- 20mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=34832
- 21mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=27029
- 24mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_77/view.do?seq=41204
- 25mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_77/view.do?seq=39239
- 26mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_89/view.do?seq=29293
- 27mfds.go.kr/english/board/boardDetail?menuId=1054&boardId=98&boardSeq=27064
- 28mfds.go.kr/english/board/boardDetail?menuId=1054&boardId=98&boardSeq=27110
- 29mfds.go.kr/english/board/boardDetail?menuId=1054&boardId=96&boardSeq=18321
- 30mfds.go.kr/eng/consumer/foodInspection.do?menuId=689
- 31mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_224/view.do?seq=49920
- 34mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_224/view.do?seq=50812
- 35mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=41020
- 47mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_99/view.do?seq= (not provided)
- 12wto.org/english/tratop_e/tariffs_e/tariff_data_e.htm
- 13ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/korus-fta
- 14trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/fta-and-eu-south-korea-agreement
- 22customs.go.kr/english/index.do
- 23mofa.go.kr/eng/index.do
- 33oecd.org/agriculture/topics/agricultural-policies-monitoring-and-evaluation/monitoring-and-evaluating-agricultural-policy-2023.pdf
- 42oecd.org/food/consumer-trends-and-policy/
- 36oec.world/en/profile/country/kor?yearlyTradeFlow=imports&category=Milk%20and%20Cream
- 37oec.world/en/profile/country/kor?yearlyTradeFlow=exports&category=Dairy
- 41oec.world/en/profile/country/kor?yearlyTradeFlow=imports&category=Milk%20powder
- 38kosis.kr/eng/ (search within for milk price CPI)
- 39kosis.kr/eng/ (search within for Consumer Price Index milk)
- 40kosis.kr/eng/ (search within for producer price index dairy)
- 45kosis.kr/eng/ (search household expenditure dairy)
- 53kosis.kr/eng/ (search manufacturing dairy output)
- 54kosis.kr/eng/ (search employment food manufacturing)
- 43oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/dairy-and-products-consumption_1c1a5aa0-en
- 44statista.com/statistics/ (CANNOT provide)
- 46knhanes.kdca.go.kr/knhanes/eng/index.do
- 48ilostat.ilo.org/data/country-profiles/
- 49bis.org/review (not provided)
- 50maeildairies.com/ (not provided)
- 51namyangdairy.com/ (not provided)
- 52seouldairy.com/ (not provided)






