South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing generated over $73 billion in revenue in 2022. Nearly half of all households spent more than 10% of their budget on food the following year.
Key Takeaways
- 0.4% Korea's real GDP growth rate (2019)
- 51.9% South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing value added that was exported in 2022
- US$45.8 billion revenue for the South Korean food manufacturing industry in 2022
- US$27.3 billion revenue for the South Korean beverage manufacturing industry in 2022
- 83.6% capacity utilization in South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing industry in Q4 2023
- 10.6 million tons of processed food products (by production weight) in South Korea in 2021
- US$1.3 billion South Korea's beverage-sector FDI inflows in 2022
- 8.4% share of food and beverage in South Korea's overall goods import value in 2023
- 48.7% of South Korean households reported spending more than 10% of their budget on food in 2023
- 18.6 liters per capita beverage consumption in South Korea in 2022
- 3.5% increase in South Korea dairy product retail prices in 2023
- 22.6% of South Korea consumers reported buying healthier foods more often in 2022
- 1,600 inspections per year on average for food labeling compliance conducted by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
- KRW 1,000,000,000 annual budget for food safety management programs in South Korea in 2023
- 6.0% of South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing companies reported implementing ISO 22000 in 2022
South Korea’s food and beverage sector is export strong, growing fast, and investing in automation, with rising health-focused demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Macro & Demand1 stats
01
0.4% Korea's real GDP growth rate (2019)
Interpretation
Macro & Demand Interpretation
With Korea’s real GDP growth at just 0.4% in 2019, the Macro and Demand outlook for the food and beverage industry suggests a relatively subdued demand environment shaped by slow overall economic expansion.
02 · Category
Market Size5 stats
01
51.9% South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing value added that was exported in 2022
02
US$45.8 billion revenue for the South Korean food manufacturing industry in 2022
03
US$27.3 billion revenue for the South Korean beverage manufacturing industry in 2022
04
US$2.8 billion South Korea beverage imports (HS 22) in 2023
05
US$3.7 billion South Korea functional beverage market size in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In the Market Size picture, South Korea’s food manufacturing alone brought in US$45.8 billion in 2022 while beverage manufacturing added US$27.3 billion, and growing demand is reflected in the US$3.7 billion functional beverage market in 2023.
03 · Category
Production Volume2 stats
01
83.6% capacity utilization in South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing industry in Q4 2023
02
10.6 million tons of processed food products (by production weight) in South Korea in 2021
Interpretation
Production Volume Interpretation
In the production volume category, South Korea’s food and beverage manufacturers ran at 83.6% capacity in Q4 2023, and produced 10.6 million tons of processed foods in 2021, signaling strong utilization alongside substantial output levels.
04 · Category
Trade & Investment2 stats
01
US$1.3 billion South Korea's beverage-sector FDI inflows in 2022
02
8.4% share of food and beverage in South Korea's overall goods import value in 2023
Interpretation
Trade & Investment Interpretation
In 2022 South Korea attracted US$1.3 billion in FDI into its beverage sector, and by 2023 food and beverage accounted for 8.4% of its overall goods import value, signaling that trade and investment activity in this segment remains a meaningful and growing focus.
05 · Category
Consumer Spending2 stats
01
48.7% of South Korean households reported spending more than 10% of their budget on food in 2023
02
18.6 liters per capita beverage consumption in South Korea in 2022
Interpretation
Consumer Spending Interpretation
In 2023, 48.7% of South Korean households spent more than 10% of their budgets on food, showing that consumer spending remains highly prioritized, while beverage demand also stays strong at 18.6 liters per capita in 2022.
More related reading
06 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
3.5% increase in South Korea dairy product retail prices in 2023
02
22.6% of South Korea consumers reported buying healthier foods more often in 2022
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Within Korea’s industry trends, dairy prices rose 3.5% in 2023 while 22.6% of consumers said they buy healthier foods more often in 2022, suggesting demand is shifting toward better-for-you options even as key staples get pricier.
07 · Category
Regulation & Compliance2 stats
01
1,600 inspections per year on average for food labeling compliance conducted by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
02
KRW 1,000,000,000 annual budget for food safety management programs in South Korea in 2023
Interpretation
Regulation & Compliance Interpretation
With South Korea averaging about 1,600 food labeling compliance inspections per year and allocating KRW 1,000,000,000 for food safety management programs in 2023, the regulation and compliance landscape is clearly active and heavily resourced.
08 · Category
Technology & Automation2 stats
01
6.0% of South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing companies reported implementing ISO 22000 in 2022
02
USD 7.2 billion projected spending on food manufacturing automation in South Korea by 2030
Interpretation
Technology & Automation Interpretation
In South Korea’s technology and automation drive, only 6.0% of food and beverage manufacturers reported implementing ISO 22000 in 2022, even as spending on food manufacturing automation is projected to reach USD 7.2 billion by 2030, showing that compliance and advanced automated production are advancing at a different pace.
09 · Category
Sustainability & Esg3 stats
01
6.7 million tons of food waste generated in South Korea in 2022
02
23% recycling rate for food packaging waste in South Korea in 2022
03
1.8 tCO2e per ton of output average for beverage manufacturing in South Korea (reported benchmark for process emissions)
Interpretation
Sustainability & Esg Interpretation
In South Korea, sustainability pressure is rising as 6.7 million tons of food waste were generated in 2022 alongside only a 23% recycling rate for food packaging waste, while beverage manufacturing still averages 1.8 tCO2e per ton of output, underscoring the need for stronger waste reduction and low carbon practices in the ESG agenda.
report visual · Key figures
South Korea’s Food & Beverage Sector: Production, Trade, and Market Signals
Food and beverage manufacturing is strongly export-linked, while beverage demand is sizable and imports remain smaller—suggesting domestic scale alongside continued reliance on external supply for specific product categories.
$45.8 billion
US$45.8 billion revenue for the South Korean food manufacturing industry in 2022
51.9%
51.9% South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing value added that was exported in 2022
$2.8 billion
US$2.8 billion South Korea beverage imports (HS 22) in 2023
$3.7 billion
US$3.7 billion South Korea functional beverage market size in 2023
83.6%
83.6% capacity utilization in South Korea's food and beverage manufacturing industry in Q4 2023
18.6
18.6 liters per capita beverage consumption in South Korea in 2022
source-verifiedstatista.com · unctad.org · trademap.org · grandviewresearch.com · kita.org · fao.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Korea Food And Beverage Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-food-and-beverage-industry-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Korea Food And Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korea-food-and-beverage-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Korea Food And Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-food-and-beverage-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+6 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)