Forget what you think you know about fast-paced trends, because South Korea’s fashion industry isn't just growing—it's exploding into a sophisticated, multi-trillion-won ecosystem where high-tech e-commerce, a luxury obsession, and a passionate drive for sustainability are reshaping the very fabric of global style.
Key Takeaways
- The South Korean fashion market was valued at approximately KRW 52.3 trillion in 2023, marking a 5.2% year-on-year growth driven by rising demand for sustainable apparel.
- Fashion e-commerce sales in South Korea reached KRW 18.7 trillion in 2022, accounting for 38% of total retail fashion sales.
- The luxury fashion segment in South Korea grew by 12% in 2023 to KRW 15.4 trillion, fueled by affluent millennials.
- South Korea's apparel manufacturing output was 1.2 billion units in 2022, with 65% from synthetic fibers.
- Fabric production for fashion reached 450 million meters in 2023, down 3% due to supply chain issues.
- Number of fashion factories in South Korea stood at 2,450 in 2023, concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi.
- South Korea's fashion exports totaled USD 13.2 billion in 2023, up 8.5% from 2022.
- Clothing exports to the US reached USD 4.1 billion in 2023, 31% of total fashion exports.
- Exports to China amounted to USD 3.8 billion in 2023 for apparel and textiles.
- Online fashion retail sales in South Korea hit KRW 22.4 trillion in 2023, 45% of total retail.
- Musinsa platform sales reached KRW 2.1 trillion in 2023, leading domestic e-fashion.
- Department store fashion sales KRW 12.3 trillion in 2023, down 1.2%.
- Fashion industry employed 1.2 million people in South Korea in 2023, 4.8% of total workforce.
- Apparel manufacturing jobs numbered 450,000 in 2023.
- Retail fashion sector employed 520,000 workers in 2023.
South Korea's fashion industry is thriving and diversifying both online and in luxury segments.
Domestic Consumption and Retail
- Online fashion retail sales in South Korea hit KRW 22.4 trillion in 2023, 45% of total retail.
- Musinsa platform sales reached KRW 2.1 trillion in 2023, leading domestic e-fashion.
- Department store fashion sales KRW 12.3 trillion in 2023, down 1.2%.
- Average annual spend on fashion per capita USD 450 in 2023.
- 68% of South Koreans aged 20-39 shop fashion online weekly in 2023.
- Luxury goods consumption in Seoul KRW 8.7 trillion in 2023.
- Fast fashion retail outlets numbered 4,200 in 2023.
- Mobile app fashion purchases 55% of e-commerce in 2023.
- Pop-up store fashion sales KRW 1.9 trillion in 2023.
- Duty-free shop fashion sales USD 2.5 billion in 2023.
- Thrift store fashion purchases up 35% to KRW 2.2 trillion in 2023.
- Men's fashion retail share 42% in urban areas 2023.
- Women's fashion dominates retail with 52% sales in 2023.
- Footwear retail sales KRW 10.1 trillion in 2023.
- Accessories retail KRW 6.3 trillion, 12% growth in 2023.
- Black Friday fashion sales KRW 1.4 trillion online in 2023.
- Chuseok holiday fashion spend KRW 3.2 trillion in 2023.
- Generation Z fashion spend KRW 9.8 trillion in 2023.
- 75% of consumers prefer Korean brands in 2023 survey.
- Outlet mall fashion sales KRW 4.5 trillion in 2023.
- Live commerce fashion sales KRW 3.8 trillion in 2023.
- Vegan leather products retail up 40% in 2023.
- Hanbok retail sales KRW 1.1 trillion in 2023.
- Sportswear retail KRW 15.6 trillion, 30% market in 2023.
- Winter fashion retail peak KRW 11.2 trillion in 2023.
- Sustainable brand retail share 18% in 2023.
- Mall of Asia fashion footfall 120 million in 2023.
- Fashion rental services revenue KRW 850 million in 2023.
- Street fashion market retail KRW 9.2 trillion in 2023.
Domestic Consumption and Retail Interpretation
South Korea's wardrobe is a high-stakes, high-speed fashion arena where the humble smartphone is the new department store, thrift is trendy, luxury is a serious sport, and national pride is the ultimate accessory.
Employment and Workforce
- Fashion industry employed 1.2 million people in South Korea in 2023, 4.8% of total workforce.
- Apparel manufacturing jobs numbered 450,000 in 2023.
- Retail fashion sector employed 520,000 workers in 2023.
- Fashion designers registered 28,500 in 2023.
- E-commerce fashion jobs grew 15% to 180,000 in 2023.
- Textile workers 220,000 in production hubs like Daegu in 2023.
- Average salary in fashion retail KRW 38 million annually in 2023.
- Female workforce 62% of fashion industry total in 2023.
- Youth employment in fashion 320,000 aged 20-29 in 2023.
- Export-oriented fashion jobs 150,000 in 2023.
- Luxury fashion brand staff 45,000 in Seoul in 2023.
- Footwear industry workers 95,000 in 2023.
- Pattern makers and sewers 110,000 employed in 2023.
- Marketing roles in fashion firms 25,000 in 2023.
- Supply chain logistics jobs 80,000 for fashion in 2023.
- Sustainable fashion specialists 12,000 hired in 2023.
- Freelance fashion stylists 15,200 registered in 2023.
- Factory automation reduced manual jobs by 8% to 380,000 in 2023.
- Streetwear brand employees 28,000 nationwide in 2023.
- Athleisure sector jobs 65,000 in 2023.
- Vintage fashion retail staff 22,000 in 2023.
- Digital fashion influencers employed indirectly 50,000 in 2023.
- Hanbok artisans 4,500 certified in 2023.
- Pop-up store temporary jobs 35,000 created in 2023.
- Fashion education graduates entering workforce 9,200 in 2023.
- R&D positions in fashion tech 18,000 in 2023.
- Sales promoters in department stores 120,000 for fashion in 2023.
- Overseas branch fashion staff 25,000 Koreans in 2023.
- Jewelry fashion craftsmen 12,000 skilled workers in 2023.
- Swimwear design and production jobs 5,200 in 2023.
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While nearly half a million hands still stitch the seams of Korea's style, the future is being digitally tailored, with e-commerce and influencers now weaving a significant new thread into the nation's 1.2 million-strong fashion fabric.
Exports and International Trade
- South Korea's fashion exports totaled USD 13.2 billion in 2023, up 8.5% from 2022.
- Clothing exports to the US reached USD 4.1 billion in 2023, 31% of total fashion exports.
- Exports to China amounted to USD 3.8 billion in 2023 for apparel and textiles.
- Vietnam received USD 1.9 billion in Korean fashion exports in 2023.
- EU fashion imports from South Korea hit USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
- Japan imported USD 1.5 billion worth of Korean fashion in 2023.
- ASEAN region exports grew 12% to USD 2.4 billion in 2023.
- Luxury brand exports from Korea USD 2.1 billion in 2023.
- Footwear exports USD 2.8 billion in 2023, led by sneakers.
- Textile fabric exports USD 5.6 billion in 2023.
- K-fashion exports to Middle East USD 450 million in 2023.
- Australia imported USD 380 million Korean apparel in 2023.
- Canada fashion imports from Korea USD 290 million in 2023.
- UK received USD 410 million in 2023 Korean fashion exports.
- Number of fashion export deals at 15,200 in 2023.
- Export growth rate to Southeast Asia 15.3% in 2023.
- Share of fashion in total Korean exports 4.2% in 2023.
- Streetwear exports USD 1.1 billion to global markets in 2023.
- Sustainable fashion exports up 28% to USD 850 million in 2023.
- Duty-free fashion exports via Incheon Airport USD 3.2 billion in 2023.
- E-commerce fashion exports USD 4.5 billion in 2023.
- Exports of hanbok-inspired designs USD 120 million in 2023.
- Sportswear exports to US USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
- Accessories exports USD 1.8 billion globally in 2023.
- Winter coat exports USD 950 million in 2023.
- Denim exports USD 750 million to Europe in 2023.
- Swimwear exports USD 280 million in 2023.
- Jewelry fashion exports USD 620 million in 2023.
Exports and International Trade Interpretation
South Korea's fashion industry is strutting confidently onto the world stage, proving its $13.2 billion wardrobe extends far beyond K-pop flair and is now being worn seriously from American streets to Southeast Asian markets.
Market Size and Revenue
- The South Korean fashion market was valued at approximately KRW 52.3 trillion in 2023, marking a 5.2% year-on-year growth driven by rising demand for sustainable apparel.
- Fashion e-commerce sales in South Korea reached KRW 18.7 trillion in 2022, accounting for 38% of total retail fashion sales.
- The luxury fashion segment in South Korea grew by 12% in 2023 to KRW 15.4 trillion, fueled by affluent millennials.
- Streetwear fashion market in South Korea hit KRW 8.9 trillion in 2023, with a CAGR of 7.8% since 2019.
- Athleisure apparel sales surged to KRW 6.2 trillion in 2022, representing 14% of the total sportswear market.
- The overall apparel retail market in South Korea expanded to USD 32.5 billion in 2023, up 4.1% from 2022.
- K-fashion exports contributed KRW 4.1 trillion to the economy in 2023, boosting market valuation.
- Domestic fashion production value reached KRW 28.6 trillion in 2022, with 6% growth YoY.
- Fast fashion segment valued at KRW 12.4 trillion in 2023, capturing 24% market share.
- Sustainable fashion market in South Korea grew to KRW 3.2 trillion in 2023, CAGR 15% from 2020.
- Vintage and second-hand fashion sales hit KRW 1.8 trillion in 2023, up 22% YoY.
- Men's fashion market size was KRW 19.7 trillion in 2022, 38% of total apparel.
- Women's apparel dominated with KRW 28.5 trillion in 2023, 55% market share.
- Footwear fashion market valued at KRW 9.8 trillion in 2023, growing 3.9%.
- Accessories segment reached KRW 5.6 trillion in 2022, 11% of fashion market.
- Online fashion sales projected to reach KRW 25 trillion by 2025, 48% of total.
- Offline retail fashion sales declined to KRW 30.1 trillion in 2023, down 2%.
- K-beauty integrated fashion market added KRW 2.4 trillion in 2023.
- Denim and casual wear market at KRW 7.3 trillion in 2022, CAGR 5.2%.
- Winter apparel sales peaked at KRW 10.2 trillion in 2023 season.
- Summer fashion market valued KRW 9.5 trillion in 2023.
- Childrenswear fashion segment KRW 4.1 trillion in 2023, up 6%.
- Plus-size fashion market grew to KRW 1.2 trillion in 2023.
- Wedding fashion industry at KRW 2.8 trillion in 2022.
- Corporate uniform fashion market KRW 1.5 trillion in 2023.
- Hanbok modern fashion revival added KRW 0.9 trillion in 2023.
- Sportswear market size KRW 14.2 trillion in 2023, 27% share.
- Outerwear segment KRW 11.8 trillion in 2022.
- Underwear and intimates KRW 3.4 trillion in 2023.
- Jewelry fashion market KRW 4.7 trillion in 2023.
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
From the boardroom to the street, Seoul's closet is a roaring, trillion-won ecosystem where luxury brands court millennials, e-commerce swallows stores, and even your gym gear is now a serious fashion statement.
Production and Manufacturing
- South Korea's apparel manufacturing output was 1.2 billion units in 2022, with 65% from synthetic fibers.
- Fabric production for fashion reached 450 million meters in 2023, down 3% due to supply chain issues.
- Number of fashion factories in South Korea stood at 2,450 in 2023, concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi.
- Sustainable fabric production increased to 120 million meters in 2023, 27% YoY growth.
- Leather goods production hit 15.6 million pieces in 2022.
- Knitwear output was 320 million garments in 2023.
- Denim production capacity at 80 million meters annually in 2023.
- Automation in fashion factories reached 45% in 2023, up from 32% in 2020.
- Organic cotton imports for production totaled 25,000 tons in 2022.
- Footwear manufacturing output 120 million pairs in 2023.
- Bag and handbag production 28 million units in 2022.
- Dyeing and finishing capacity for fashion textiles 600 million meters in 2023.
- Recycled polyester production for apparel 150,000 tons in 2023.
- Number of apparel SMEs in production sector 18,200 in 2023.
- High-end suit production 4.5 million units in 2022.
- Activewear manufacturing output 95 million pieces in 2023.
- Silk fabric production limited to 2.5 million meters in 2023.
- Wool garment production 12 million units in 2022 winter season.
- Technical textiles for fashion accessories 50 million sqm in 2023.
- Garment export-oriented production 750 million units in 2023.
- Local dyeing factories numbered 1,200 in 2023.
- Lingerie production 45 million pieces in 2023.
- Children's clothing manufacturing 55 million garments in 2022.
- Eco-friendly dyeing processes adopted by 35% of factories in 2023.
- Fashion jewelry production 120 million pieces in 2023.
- Hat and headwear output 8 million units in 2022.
- Belt manufacturing 25 million units annually in 2023.
- Scarf and shawl production 18 million pieces in 2023.
- Swimwear production 6.5 million suits in 2023 summer.
Production and Manufacturing Interpretation
While South Korea's fashion industry remains a formidable, synthetic-powered export juggernaut churning out over a billion garments annually, a promising green shoots revolution is quietly threading its way through, with sustainable fabric production soaring 27% and nearly half of all factories now automated, proving the sector can be both a high-tech powerhouse and an increasingly eco-conscious one.
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