In 2023, 67% of Korean consumers visited franchise outlets at least weekly, with F&B leading because standardized quality lowers the risk of choosing the wrong brand. Delivery orders climbed 28% to 1.2 billion, and 41% of those deliveries came through platform services like Baemin and Yogiyo. These indicators frame how store networks, app ordering, and menu demand translate into performance across the franchise sector.
Key Takeaways
- 67% of Korean consumers visited franchise outlets weekly in 2023, preferring F&B for convenience and brand trust
- The franchise industry employed 1.82 million people in 2023, representing 7.1% of total retail employment in Korea
- The total number of franchise brands registered in Korea as of 2023 was 6,847, including 4,212 foodservice brands and 1,635 service brands
- Foodservice franchises dominated with 61.5% of total brands (4,212 out of 6,847) in 2023
- In 2022, the total market size of the Korean franchise industry reached 286.4 trillion KRW, marking a 4.2% year-over-year growth driven by post-pandemic recovery in foodservice sectors
Korean franchise industry data shows steady growth, with rising sales and outlets across major categories.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer And Operational Trends17 stats
01
67% of Korean consumers visited franchise outlets weekly in 2023, preferring F&B for convenience and brand trust
02
Average customer satisfaction score for franchises was 8.2/10 in 2023, with coffee shops at 8.7 due to ambiance
03
Delivery orders from franchises rose 28% to 1.2 billion in 2023, 41% via platforms like Baemin and Yogiyo
04
54% of consumers chose franchises for standardized quality, with 72% loyalty to chicken brands in 2023 survey
05
Average franchise store operation hours were 14.2 hours daily in 2023, with 24/7 convenience stores at 82% rate
06
Membership programs covered 65 million users in 2023, boosting repeat visits by 34% across franchises
07
Sustainability initiatives adopted by 43% of franchises in 2023, with eco-packaging reducing plastic use by 22%
08
Digital ordering via apps reached 38% of sales in urban franchises in 2023, up from 25% in 2022
09
Franchise failure rate was 12.4% in first year for 2023 entrants, mainly due to location and competition issues
10
82% of consumers aged 20-39 preferred app-based loyalty programs in 2023 franchises
11
Non-contact services post-COVID adopted by 91% of franchises, reducing infection risks
12
Average menu price inflation in F&B franchises was 4.8% in 2023, matching CPI
13
46% growth in vegan menu options across franchises in 2023, driven by health trends
14
Store density in Seoul: 1 franchise per 1,200 residents in 2023, highest nationally
15
Customer complaint resolution rate was 94.2% within 7 days for major franchises in 2023
16
Hybrid store models (dine-in + delivery) comprised 67% of new F&B openings in 2023
17
Peak hour sales (11am-2pm) accounted for 32% of daily revenue in 2023 franchises
Interpretation
Consumer And Operational Trends Interpretation
Consumer behavior and franchise operations are tightly aligned, with 67% of shoppers visiting weekly in 2023 and delivery orders up 28% to 1.2 billion, showing that convenience, standardization, and extended access are key drivers of repeat franchise traffic.
02 · Category
Employment And Economic Impact18 stats
01
The franchise industry employed 1.82 million people in 2023, representing 7.1% of total retail employment in Korea
02
Average annual wage for franchise employees was 28.4 million KRW in 2023, 12% below national average due to part-time staffing
03
Franchise sector created 145,000 new jobs in 2023, with 62% in foodservice and 18% in retail
04
Small franchisees (under 10 stores) contributed 32% of total employment at 582,000 workers in 2023
05
Economic multiplier effect of franchise spending was 1.67 in 2023, generating 478 trillion KRW in indirect GDP impact
06
45% of franchise outlets were operated by self-employed individuals, supporting 820,000 entrepreneurial jobs in 2023
07
Youth employment (20-29 years) in franchises reached 420,000 in 2023, 23% of total franchise workforce
08
Female workers comprised 52.3% of franchise employees in 2023, highest in service sectors at 61%
09
Franchise taxes paid totaled 12.6 trillion KRW in 2023, with corporate tax share at 8.9 trillion KRW
10
Franchise employment growth rate was 3.2% in 2023, adding 56,400 jobs net
11
Part-time workers were 58% of franchise staff in 2023, averaging 22 hours/week
12
Regional employment: Jeju franchises employed 12,000, up 9% from tourism rebound
13
Training hours per franchise employee averaged 28 hours/year in 2023, improving service quality
14
Franchise SMEs (99% of operators) generated 92% of sector revenue but only 78% employment
15
Export jobs from franchises: 34,500 overseas positions filled by Korean brands in 2023
16
Labor turnover rate in franchises was 24.7% in 2023, lowest in convenience stores at 18.2%
17
Senior employment (over 60) rose to 8.4% of workforce, 152,000 jobs in 2023
18
Supplier payments by franchises totaled 89.4 trillion KRW in 2023, supporting 450,000 indirect jobs
Interpretation
Employment And Economic Impact Interpretation
In 2023 the Korean franchise industry directly supported 1.82 million jobs while also amplifying the economy with a 1.67 spending multiplier that drove 478 trillion KRW in indirect GDP impact, making employment growth closely tied to broader economic effects.
03 · Category
Franchise Brand Statistics18 stats
01
The total number of franchise brands registered in Korea as of 2023 was 6,847, including 4,212 foodservice brands and 1,635 service brands
02
In 2023, 1,256 new franchise brands were launched, with 68% in the F&B sector and 22% in education services
03
Top 10 franchise brands by revenue in 2023 included GS25 with 12.4 trillion KRW, followed by CU at 11.8 trillion KRW
04
As of 2024, there were 2,341 multi-brand franchise operators managing over 5 brands each, up 14% from 2022
05
Chicken franchise brands numbered 1,892 in 2023, accounting for 27.6% of all food franchises with BBQ leading at 1,800 stores
06
Coffee shop franchises reached 1,456 brands in 2023, with Ediya Coffee expanding to 3,200 outlets nationwide
07
78% of franchise brands in 2023 were domestic-origin, while 22% were foreign-affiliated like Subway and KFC adaptations
08
Education franchise brands grew to 912 in 2023, with hagwon (cram school) types comprising 65% of the segment
09
Convenience store franchise brands totaled 8 major players in 2023, with combined stores exceeding 45,000 units
10
Bakery franchise brands numbered 567 in 2023, led by Paris Baguette with 3,600 domestic stores
11
Master franchise agreements numbered 567 in 2023, with 34% in Southeast Asia markets
12
Brand registration cancellation rate was 9.8% in 2023 for inactive brands over 2 years
13
F&B brands with over 100 stores: 1,456 in 2023, average store count 245 per brand
14
Emerging brands (under 5 years old) totaled 2,134 in 2023, 31% of all brands
15
Subway Korea as foreign brand had 1,200 stores in 2023, revenue 1.1 trillion KRW
16
Pet franchise brands grew to 234 in 2023, up 18% with millennial pet ownership trends
17
Fitness gym franchises reached 389 brands, with 12,500 stores serving 2.1 million members in 2023
18
Laundry service franchises numbered 678, revenue 3.4 trillion KRW amid urban living
Interpretation
Franchise Brand Statistics Interpretation
In Korea’s franchise brand landscape, the sharp growth of new brands in 2023 is clear with 1,256 launches, and the category’s mix is strongly tilted toward food with 4,212 foodservice brands out of 6,847 total registered, while chicken alone made up 1,892 brands or 27.6% of all food franchises.
More related reading
04 · Category
Industry Sectors15 stats
01
Foodservice franchises dominated with 61.5% of total brands (4,212 out of 6,847) in 2023
02
Retail franchises accounted for 18.2% of the market in 2023, with beauty and fashion subsectors growing 7.4% YoY
03
Service sector franchises, including PC bangs and laundromats, made up 12.3% with 842 brands in 2023
04
Chicken F&B subsector revenue was 45.2 trillion KRW in 2023, 28% of total F&B franchise sales
05
Coffee franchises generated 22.1 trillion KRW in 2023, with 15.4% growth from specialty drinks and drive-thrus
06
Convenience store sector had 52,300 stores in 2023, contributing 41.7 trillion KRW or 14.5% of total franchise revenue
07
Beauty care franchises numbered 1,234 stores in 2023, with revenue up 9.2% to 8.7 trillion KRW from skincare trends
08
Education sector franchises employed specialized curricula, with 28% revenue growth in online hybrid models in 2023
09
PC room (bang) franchises totaled 456 brands, generating 4.2 trillion KRW amid esports boom in 2023
10
Fashion retail franchises contributed 15.6 trillion KRW, 9% market share with SPA brands leading
11
Bakery and dessert F&B subsector had 2,100 stores added in 2023, total revenue 18.9 trillion KRW
12
Car wash service franchises totaled 345 brands, growing 11% with self-service models
13
Interior design franchises numbered 212, revenue up 14% to 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023
14
Vending machine franchises emerged with 156 brands, 45,000 units generating 1.2 trillion KRW
15
Real estate agency franchises had 289 branches, aiding 18% of urban transactions in 2023
Interpretation
Industry Sectors Interpretation
In 2023, the Industry Sectors picture was dominated by Foodservice franchises at 61.5% of all brands, showing that franchise growth in Korea is still being led by dining while convenience stores delivered 41.7 trillion KRW, or 14.5% of total revenue.
05 · Category
Market Size And Growth16 stats
01
In 2022, the total market size of the Korean franchise industry reached 286.4 trillion KRW, marking a 4.2% year-over-year growth driven by post-pandemic recovery in foodservice sectors
02
The franchise industry's contribution to Korea's GDP stood at 1.48% in 2023, with projections for 1.55% growth in 2024 due to expansion in convenience store franchises
03
From 2019 to 2023, the CAGR of the Korean franchise market was 3.8%, with food and beverage segments leading at 5.1% CAGR amid rising delivery demand
04
In Q4 2023, franchise sales volume increased by 6.7% to 72.1 trillion KRW, fueled by new store openings in urban areas like Seoul and Busan
05
The online franchise market segment grew 12.4% in 2023 to 18.9 trillion KRW, representing 6.6% of total franchise revenue from digital platforms
06
Projected franchise market size for 2025 is 310 trillion KRW, with a 4.5% annual growth rate supported by government incentives for small franchisees
07
In 2023, export-oriented franchise brands generated 2.3 trillion KRW in overseas revenue, up 15% from 2022, boosting overall market expansion
08
Domestic franchise turnover per store averaged 1.42 billion KRW in 2022, with a 3.2% increase attributed to premium branding trends
09
The franchise industry's average annual growth rate from 2018-2023 was 4.1%, outpacing general retail at 2.9% due to multi-brand strategies
10
In 2024 H1, franchise market revenue hit 152.3 trillion KRW, a 5.8% YoY rise led by chicken and coffee franchise surges
11
In 2023, 78.5% of franchise contracts were standard FRLA-compliant, with average initial fee of 45 million KRW
12
Royalty fees averaged 5.2% of monthly sales across franchises in 2023, highest in education at 7.1%
13
2023 saw 89,400 new franchise stores opened, net addition of 76,200 after closures, led by Seoul metro area
14
Profit margin for top 100 franchises averaged 8.7% in 2023, compared to 4.2% for independents
15
Overseas expansion: 1,234 Korean franchise brands operated 45,600 stores abroad in 2023, mainly in China and Vietnam
16
Inflation-adjusted franchise sales growth was 2.9% in 2023 despite 3.6% CPI rise, showing resilience
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
In the Market Size And Growth view of Korea’s franchise industry, the market expanded to 286.4 trillion KRW in 2022 and is projected to reach 310 trillion KRW by 2025, reflecting steady growth around a 3.8% CAGR from 2019 to 2023 while food and beverage and the fast-rising online segment further lift momentum.
report visual · Key figures
Korean franchise momentum: sales growth and digital shift
Franchise demand is rising while online/digital ordering continues to expand, indicating stronger convenience and delivery-driven consumption patterns.
6.7%
In Q4 2023, franchise sales volume increased by 6.7% to 72.1 trillion KRW, fueled by new store openings in urban areas l
12.4%
The online franchise market segment grew 12.4% in 2023 to 18.9 trillion KRW, representing 6.6% of total franchise revenu
3.8%
From 2019 to 2023, the CAGR of the Korean franchise market was 3.8%, with food and beverage segments leading at 5.1% CAG
2.9%
Inflation-adjusted franchise sales growth was 2.9% in 2023 despite 3.6% CPI rise, showing resilience
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
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Korean Franchise Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-franchise-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Korean Franchise Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korean-franchise-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Korean Franchise Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-franchise-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
7 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level