South Korea’s non-alcoholic beverage production value climbed 7.6% year over year in 2023 while beer volume slipped 3.0%, a split that instantly complicates any simple “growth is everywhere” narrative. At the same time, bottled water penetration is no longer a niche habit with 52.7% of households buying at least once in the past month in 2022 and 18.5% of consumers reporting the same behavior in 2023 survey data. The mix also sharpens in trade and compliance, from $8.3B in beverage production value to rising recall activity and a measurable $3.1 per 1000 bottles cost impact tied to extended producer responsibility.
Key Takeaways
- $8.3B South Korea beverage production value reported in 2022 (current prices)
- 7.6% year-over-year growth in South Korea’s non-alcoholic beverage production value in 2023
- 1.5% year-over-year growth in South Korea’s bottled water production volume in 2023
- 52.7% of South Korean households reported purchasing bottled water at least once in the past month (2022)
- 1.6B cans of carbonated soft drinks sold in South Korea in 2023 (units)
- 3.2B bottles of bottled water sold in South Korea in 2023 (units)
- 3.0% decline in beer production volume in South Korea in 2023
- 19.8% growth in “other alcoholic beverages” production volume in South Korea in 2023
- 5.3% of South Korea retail beverage sales were through e-commerce channels in 2023
- $1.6B South Korea imported spirits value in 2023 (customs trade total)
- $0.9B South Korea imported wine value in 2023 (customs trade total)
- $0.7B South Korea imported bottled water value in 2023 (customs trade total)
- $3.1 per 1000 bottles cost impact from extended producer responsibility compliance in 2023 (industry compliance estimate)
- 18.5% of South Koreans reported purchasing bottled water at least once in the past month for 2023 (survey-based figure), indicating high penetration beyond the already-reported 2022 baseline
- 125.0% increase in beverage-related recalls issued in South Korea in 2022 vs 2020 (counts from recall database year-over-year), indicating heightened compliance scrutiny
South Korea’s beverage market is growing steadily, led by non alcohol drinks and strong bottled water demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size5 stats
01
$8.3B South Korea beverage production value reported in 2022 (current prices)[1]
02
7.6% year-over-year growth in South Korea’s non-alcoholic beverage production value in 2023[1]
03
1.5% year-over-year growth in South Korea’s bottled water production volume in 2023[1]
04
7.4% CAGR for non-alcoholic drinks in South Korea forecast for 2024–2029 (industry forecast), indicating mid-single-digit growth expectations[2]
05
22.0% share of imported alcoholic beverages in South Korea’s total spirits category by value in 2023 (import penetration in spirits), highlighting reliance on imports for some SKUs[3]
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
South Korea’s beverage market is expanding steadily, with non-alcoholic drinks growing at a mid single digit 7.4% CAGR projected for 2024–2029 and production value rising 7.6% in 2023, while bottled water adds a smaller 1.5% volume lift and imported alcoholic beverages still account for 22.0% of spirits by value in 2023.
02 · Category
Consumer Demand3 stats
Interpretation
Consumer Demand Interpretation
Under consumer demand, sales clearly point to strong everyday hydration and soft drink appetite, with 52.7% of South Korean households buying bottled water in 2022 and 3.2B bottled water bottles and 1.6B carbonated soft drink cans sold in 2023.
03 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Under the Industry Trends lens, South Korea’s beverage market is clearly shifting in 2023 with beer volume down 3.0% while “other alcoholic beverages” surged 19.8%, and e-commerce already accounts for 5.3% of retail beverage sales.
04 · Category
Trade Flows8 stats
01
$1.6B South Korea imported spirits value in 2023 (customs trade total)[5]
02
$0.9B South Korea imported wine value in 2023 (customs trade total)[5]
03
$0.7B South Korea imported bottled water value in 2023 (customs trade total)[5]
04
$1.2B South Korea imported carbonated soft drinks value in 2023 (customs trade total)[5]
05
$0.5B South Korea exported wine value in 2023 (customs trade total)[5]
06
4.7% share of total Korean beverage (HS 22) imports comprised by beer in 2023 (value basis)[6]
07
6.1% share of total Korean beverage (HS 22) imports comprised by spirits in 2023 (value basis)[6]
08
$0.6B South Korea imports of non-alcoholic beverages in 2023 (HS 22)[7]
Interpretation
Trade Flows Interpretation
In trade flows for HS 22, South Korea’s 2023 imports skew strongly toward alcohol, with spirits at $1.6B and accounting for 6.1% of total HS 22 import value, alongside carbonated soft drinks at $1.2B and bottled water at $0.7B.
More related reading
05 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
$3.1per 1000 bottles cost impact from extended producer responsibility compliance in 2023 (industry compliance estimate)[8]
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In 2023, extended producer responsibility compliance added an estimated $3.1 cost impact per 1,000 bottles in Korea’s beverage industry, underscoring how regulatory obligations are directly shaping cost levels within the cost analysis category.
06 · Category
User Adoption1 stats
01
18.5% of South Koreans reported purchasing bottled water at least once in the past month for 2023 (survey-based figure), indicating high penetration beyond the already-reported 2022 baseline[9]
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In 2023, 18.5% of South Koreans reported buying bottled water at least once in the past month, showing strong user adoption momentum and wider penetration even beyond the already established 2022 baseline.
07 · Category
Regulatory & Compliance1 stats
01
125.0% increase in beverage-related recalls issued in South Korea in 2022 vs 2020 (counts from recall database year-over-year), indicating heightened compliance scrutiny[10]
Interpretation
Regulatory & Compliance Interpretation
In 2022, South Korea saw a 125.0% increase in beverage-related recalls versus 2020, signaling much tighter regulatory and compliance scrutiny on beverage safety and quality.
08 · Category
Performance Metrics1 stats
01
6.0% shorter average lead time for beverage SKUs stocked via 3PL fulfillment in South Korea during 2023 peak season (logistics KPI), reducing time-to-shelf[11]
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In South Korea’s 2023 peak season, using 3PL fulfillment cut average lead time for beverage SKUs by 6.0%, delivering a measurable performance improvement through faster time-to-shelf.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Korean Beverage Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-beverage-industry-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Korean Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korean-beverage-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Korean Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-beverage-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
11 sources cited across this report