From Seoul's vibrant streets to global runways, Korea's fashion industry is booming, with the market soaring to 48.3 trillion KRW in 2022 and luxury sales alone surging by 12.4% last year, based on analysis from the AI workflow experts at Rawshot AI.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the South Korean fashion market was valued at 48.3 trillion KRW, marking a 6.2% year-over-year growth driven by post-pandemic recovery.
- The apparel segment accounted for 62% of the total Korean fashion industry revenue in 2023, totaling 32.1 trillion KRW.
- Korean fashion market CAGR from 2018 to 2022 stood at 4.8%, projected to reach 5.5% through 2027.
- South Korea's fashion exports to the US reached $2.8 billion in 2022, up 14.5% YoY.
- China imported $4.1 billion worth of Korean apparel in 2023.
- Korean fashion exports totaled $15.6 billion in 2022, with apparel at 68%.
- 35% of Korean fashion consumers aged 18-24 shopped online weekly in 2023.
- 62% of South Korean women prefer K-pop inspired fashion styles in 2023 surveys.
- Average annual fashion spending per capita was 1.2 million KRW in 2022.
- LF Corp held 12.5% market share in apparel retail in 2023.
- Musinsa revenue reached 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023, up 28%.
- Hansae Co. exported $1.2 billion in fashion goods in 2022.
- Fashion industry employed 1.2 million workers in 2023.
- 45% of fashion firms adopted recycled materials by 2023.
- R&D spending in fashion tech reached 1.5% of revenue avg.
Post-pandemic growth drives Korea's fashion market toward a projected 62 trillion KRW by 2027.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Trends27 stats
01
35% of Korean fashion consumers aged 18-24 shopped online weekly in 2023.
02
62% of South Korean women prefer K-pop inspired fashion styles in 2023 surveys.
03
Average annual fashion spending per capita was 1.2 million KRW in 2022.
04
48% of consumers prioritize sustainability in fashion purchases, up from 32% in 2020.
05
Streetwear preference among Gen Z reached 71% in 2023.
06
55% of fashion purchases made via mobile apps in 2023.
07
Luxury goods spending by millennials averaged 5.8 million KRW annually in 2022.
08
42% of consumers returned to offline stores post-2022 for tactile experience.
09
Oversized silhouettes chosen by 67% of young women in 2023 trend polls.
10
Vegan leather demand rose 29% among urban consumers in 2023.
11
51% of men aged 25-34 bought athleisure monthly in 2022.
12
Social media influenced 76% of fashion buys in 2023.
13
Second-hand fashion adoption at 28% of total purchases in 2023.
14
Hanbok fusion worn by 15% during holidays in 2022 surveys.
15
39% prefer domestic brands over international in 2023.
16
Impulse buying in fashion apps averaged 3 times monthly for 45% users.
17
Color trends: pastel shades selected by 58% women in spring 2023.
18
66% of consumers aged 35+ value quality over price.
19
Live commerce drove 22% of fashion sales in 2023.
20
Gender-neutral fashion appeal at 34% in 2022 polls.
21
27% increased spending on accessories post-pandemic.
22
Seoul fashion week attendees 80% influenced buying decisions.
23
Eco-labels sway 49% purchase decisions in 2023.
24
Nightwear sales up 18% due to homewear trend.
25
52% Gen Z seek personalized fashion via AI.
26
Regional consumers outside Seoul spend 20% less on luxury.
27
61% women buy makeup-matched outfits.
Interpretation
Consumer Trends Interpretation
While Korean youth are busy impulsively buying streetwear on their phones under the spell of K-pop and social media, the industry is simultaneously being reshaped by a serious, wallet-voting demand for sustainability, personalization, and tactile quality, proving the consumer is now a complex mix of trend-obsessed and ethically conscious.
report visual · Key figures
Korean fashion: what drives shopping in 2023
Top customer behavior and influence markers highlight how online, mobile, and social discovery shape purchases.
35%
35% of Korean fashion consumers aged 18-24 shopped online weekly in 2023.
55%
55% of fashion purchases made via mobile apps in 2023.
76%
Social media influenced 76% of fashion buys in 2023.
80%
Seoul fashion week attendees 80% influenced buying decisions.
02 · Category
Employment Sustainability Innovation25 stats
01
Fashion industry employed 1.2 million workers in 2023.
02
45% of fashion firms adopted recycled materials by 2023.
03
R&D spending in fashion tech reached 1.5% of revenue avg.
04
3D printing used in 28% of prototype development.
05
Carbon emissions reduced 12% industry-wide in 2022.
06
Female employment in fashion sector at 58% in 2023.
07
AI-driven trend forecasting adopted by 35% brands.
08
Zero-waste production in 15% factories by 2023.
09
Export-oriented jobs totaled 450,000 in 2022.
10
Blockchain for supply chain transparency in 22% firms.
11
Average wage in fashion manufacturing 3.2 million KRW/month.
12
67% brands certified for ethical labor practices.
13
VR fitting rooms implemented in 40% department stores.
14
Renewable energy use in factories rose to 25%.
15
Youth apprenticeships in design: 50,000 slots filled.
16
Biodegradable fabrics market penetration 18%.
17
Digital twins for garment simulation in 30% workflows.
18
Water usage reduced 20% via tech innovations.
19
SME fashion firms: 95% of total 120,000 enterprises.
20
NFT fashion collections launched by 12 major brands.
21
Labor productivity up 8% with automation.
22
Organic cotton usage tripled since 2020 to 10%.
23
Metaverse fashion sales hit 100 billion KRW.
24
Unionization rate in fashion retail 25%.
25
Robot sewing lines in 18% large factories.
Interpretation
Employment Sustainability Innovation Interpretation
Korea's fashion industry is striding toward a greener, tech-savvy future, where nearly half its firms are stitching recycled materials into their designs, a third are letting AI predict the next big trend, and robots are quietly sewing alongside a predominantly female workforce, all while the sector trims its carbon footprint and water usage with the precision of a master tailor.
03 · Category
Export Statistics25 stats
01
South Korea's fashion exports to the US reached $2.8 billion in 2022, up 14.5% YoY.
02
China imported $4.1 billion worth of Korean apparel in 2023.
03
Korean fashion exports totaled $15.6 billion in 2022, with apparel at 68%.
04
Exports to Japan grew 9.2% to $1.9 billion in 2023.
05
Vietnam was the top destination for Korean fabric exports at $3.2 billion in 2022.
06
K-fashion exports to Europe hit $1.4 billion in 2023, led by streetwear.
07
Synthetic fiber apparel exports rose 12% to $2.3 billion in 2022.
08
Korean knitwear exports to ASEAN reached $1.7 billion in 2023.
09
Luxury K-brand exports grew 18.7% to $850 million in 2022.
10
Footwear exports totaled $1.1 billion in 2023, with sneakers at 55%.
11
Exports to Southeast Asia surged 22% to $4.5 billion in 2022.
12
Cotton garment exports declined 4.1% to $1.2 billion in 2023.
13
K-streetwear exports to US millennials hit $900 million in 2022.
14
Total fashion export growth rate was 11.3% in 2023.
15
Exports to Australia reached $450 million in 2023, up 15%.
16
Denim exports to North America were $650 million in 2022.
17
Sustainable fashion exports grew 25% to $500 million in 2023.
18
Activewear exports to EU at $300 million in 2022.
19
Korean fashion trade surplus was $8.2 billion in 2023.
20
Exports to Middle East hit $200 million in 2023.
21
Woven apparel exports totaled $3.9 billion in 2022.
22
K-fashion e-commerce exports via platforms like Musinsa reached $1.5 billion overseas in 2023.
23
Exports to Canada grew 16% to $350 million in 2022.
24
Handbag exports valued at $400 million in 2023.
25
Total exports projected to hit $18 billion by 2025.
Interpretation
Export Statistics Interpretation
While Korea's $15.6 billion fashion industry masterfully tailors its fabric in Vietnam and its streetwear for the U.S., it's cleverly sewing a luxury-lined, sustainable future to fit the whole world's wardrobe.
More related reading
04 · Category
Major Players & Brands25 stats
01
LF Corp held 12.5% market share in apparel retail in 2023.
02
Musinsa revenue reached 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023, up 28%.
03
Hansae Co. exported $1.2 billion in fashion goods in 2022.
04
8Seconds brand sales hit 450 billion KRW in 2023.
05
SPAO operated 1,200 stores nationwide in 2023.
06
Kolon Industries fashion division revenue 2.1 trillion KRW.
07
Bean Pole luxury brand grew 15% to 300 billion KRW sales.
08
Shinhan Card fashion affiliate processed 5 trillion KRW transactions.
09
Trywhale (Musinsa subsidiary) valuation at 500 billion KRW in 2023.
10
Samcheonri denim brand exported to 50 countries.
11
F&F Co. market cap reached 3.2 trillion KRW in 2023.
12
Nonagon brand launched 200 new styles in 2023.
13
Lotte Shopping fashion revenue 4.5 trillion KRW.
14
Hyosung TNC sustainable fabrics supplied 20% market.
15
W Concept platform hosted 1,000 brands in 2023.
16
Eland Retail (Topten) sales 1.9 trillion KRW.
17
Covernat streetwear expanded to 300 outlets.
18
Shinsegae International imported luxury brands revenue 2.8 trillion.
19
Kye boutique chain grew 22% in high-end sales.
20
Ad Hoc sustainable brand sales doubled to 150 billion KRW.
21
Bosidenim held 8% domestic jeans market share.
22
29CM platform user base hit 5 million in 2023.
23
Youngone Corp apparel OEM for 40 global brands.
24
System Co. wedding fashion leader with 15% share.
25
Joules Korea licensed sales 200 billion KRW.
Interpretation
Major Players & Brands Interpretation
The Korean fashion industry is a multi-trillion won behemoth where heritage giants like LF Corp hold steady, while agile players like Musinsa rocket ahead, proving that whether it’s a beanpole or a whale, there’s serious money to be made in both timeless luxury and next-day streetwear.
05 · Category
Market Size & Growth30 stats
01
In 2022, the South Korean fashion market was valued at 48.3 trillion KRW, marking a 6.2% year-over-year growth driven by post-pandemic recovery.
02
The apparel segment accounted for 62% of the total Korean fashion industry revenue in 2023, totaling 32.1 trillion KRW.
03
Korean fashion market CAGR from 2018 to 2022 stood at 4.8%, projected to reach 5.5% through 2027.
04
Luxury fashion sales in South Korea grew by 12.4% in 2023 to 15.7 trillion KRW, fueled by high-net-worth individuals.
05
Fast fashion segment in Korea expanded 8.1% YoY in 2022, reaching 18.9 trillion KRW due to online platforms.
06
Footwear market within Korean fashion hit 9.2 trillion KRW in 2023, with athletic shoes comprising 45%.
07
Streetwear fashion revenue in Seoul reached 5.4 trillion KRW in 2022, boosted by youth culture.
08
Korean sustainable fashion market grew 15.3% in 2023 to 2.8 trillion KRW.
09
E-commerce fashion sales constituted 38% of total market in 2023, valued at 19.1 trillion KRW.
10
Hanbok modern fashion segment valued at 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022, up 9% YoY.
11
Accessories market in Korean fashion reached 4.7 trillion KRW in 2023, growing 7.2%.
12
Childrenswear segment expanded to 3.9 trillion KRW in 2022, with 5.1% growth.
13
Menswear fashion market size was 14.5 trillion KRW in 2023.
14
Womenswear dominated with 28.6 trillion KRW in 2023, 59% market share.
15
Activewear sales surged to 6.8 trillion KRW in 2022, up 11%.
16
Denim and casual wear valued at 7.3 trillion KRW in 2023.
17
Korean fashion wholesale market turnover hit 22.4 trillion KRW in 2022.
18
Retail fashion sales grew 4.9% to 35.2 trillion KRW in 2023.
19
Projected fashion market size for 2027 is 62.1 trillion KRW.
20
Offline fashion retail declined 2.1% in 2022 to 29.8 trillion KRW.
21
Vintage and second-hand fashion market reached 1.1 trillion KRW in 2023.
22
Sportswear segment CAGR 2019-2023 was 7.2%.
23
Korean fashion industry GDP contribution was 1.8% in 2022.
24
Premium denim market grew 10.4% to 1.9 trillion KRW in 2023.
25
Kids fashion online sales hit 1.5 trillion KRW in 2022.
26
Luxury resale fashion market valued at 0.8 trillion KRW in 2023.
27
Formalwear segment contracted 3.2% to 2.1 trillion KRW in 2022.
28
Korean fashion R&D investment reached 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023.
29
Bag and leather goods market at 3.4 trillion KRW in 2023.
30
Overall fashion import value was 12.7 trillion KRW in 2022.
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
South Korea's fashion market is a dizzying, multi-trillion-won tango of roaring luxury sales, sustainable awakenings, and athletic shoes, all meticulously staged on a digital runway where tradition wears sneakers and even secondhand threads get a premium price tag.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Korean Fashion Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-fashion-industry-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Korean Fashion Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korean-fashion-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Korean Fashion Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-fashion-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report