The South Korea beer market was valued at USD 22.11 Billion in 2025. The rise of premiumisation, with millennials inclining towards craft and imported beers, is compelling brewers to diversify portfolios and invest in niche, flavour-forward offerings. In turn, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.60% during the forecast period of 2026-2035 to reach a value of USD 34.67 Billion by 2035.
The market is undergoing a sharp transformation, marked by bold innovation, changing consumer tastes, and regulatory shifts favouring craft and premium labels. In 2023, local microbreweries distributed 22 million litres of craft beer, which accounted for 1.31% of the beer market sales, driven by the growing demand from younger drinkers seeking fresh flavours and authenticity. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has relaxed alcohol production regulations, enabling smaller breweries to flourish, creating space for creative brewing formulas and independent brands and boosting the overall beer consumption in South Korea.
Meanwhile, import penetration has grown modestly, but South Korean breweries are responding with hybrid brews combining Korean ingredients, like citron or rice, with international styles. For instance, Jeju Beer Company’s Tangerine IPA achieved success in local and international markets, owing to its unique flavour identity.
In addition, younger consumers, especially in urban hubs like Seoul and Busan, are prioritising quality and innovation over brand loyalty. This behavioural change is reshaping South Korea beer market dynamics and opening up B2B avenues in hospitality, convenience retail, and e-commerce platforms. Mergers between domestic players and international brewers have also surged, aiming to gain an edge in the premium beer market.
Base Year
Historical Period
Forecast Period
Compound Annual Growth Rate
4.6%
Value in USD Billion
2026-2035
*this image is indicative*
The South Korea beer industry has expanded exponentially, with over 180 microbreweries in operation as of 2025. Localised brewing is also growing in popularity with pubs and hotels looking for city-specific or themed beer experiences. One example is Magpie Brewing in Seoul, known for using local honey and herbs in its brews. The 2021 tax reform that favours smaller brewers based on beer volume has lowered barriers for craft entrepreneurs. This hyperlocal movement is being increasingly tapped by B2B buyers like boutique restaurants, themed cafés, and specialty retailers seeking differentiated product lines for niche audiences.
Breweries in the country are leveraging IoT sensors and AI-based quality control to fine-tune consistency in brewing, further boosting the South Korea beer market development. These systems appeal to B2B clients such as chain restaurants and bars, where taste uniformity matters. This digital angle also strengthens traceability and sustainability, which resonates with environmentally conscious clients in hospitality and distribution sectors. Moreover, automated data collection is enabling real-time inventory insights, helping distributors manage shelf-life, reduce waste, and forecast demand more accurately.
Premium beer sales have surged, especially in metropolitan areas like Seoul and Incheon. As per South Korea beer market analysis, Korea’s beer imports reached USD 218 million in 2023, up by 11.8% from USD 195 million in 2022. Imported malts, barrel ageing, and experimental flavours are becoming the new standard in upscale bars and lounges. This is leading B2B buyers in the restaurant and nightlife industries to adjust their inventories toward premium SKUs to match the rising demand for refined taste experiences.
South Korea’s Environment Ministry is offering green innovation grants, indirectly benefitting breweries reducing carbon emissions or recycling brewery waste. Brewers like The Booth have adopted circular waste systems that repurpose spent grain into pet food or fertiliser. Such sustainability drives are increasingly influencing procurement decisions by B2B buyers in hotel chains and corporate event planners who are looking to associate with eco-conscious beverage partners.
An emerging trend that is accelerating the South Korea beer market revenue is the concept of beer marketing with K-pop culture. Partnerships like the one between Cass and BTS have generated massive traction, helping brands get featured in themed cafes, music lounges, and concert venues. B2B buyers in experiential retail, event planning, and pop-up venues are leaning into this trend. Custom-labelled beer linked to entertainment brands is adding emotional branding into commercial buying choices, especially for seasonal or campaign-based inventory.
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The EMR’s report titled “South Korea Beer Market Report and Forecast 2026-2035” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Packaging Material
Key Insight: Glass remains dominant in the South Korean market due to its alignment with premium branding and consumer eco-sentiment, especially in urban pubs and upscale venues. Metal, especially aluminium cans, is seeing rising demand owing to its portability and lightweight appeal. Meanwhile, PET packaging caters to large-format, cost-efficient needs in bulk retail. Each format taps different B2B strategies. For example, the focus on sustainability drives glass packaging category, metal is preferred for ease of storage and recycling metal, and value-driven retail packaging sustains the PET category.
Market Breakup by Packaging Type
Key Insight: The bottle format holds dominance in the beer market share in South Korea due to its strong association with traditional branding and drinkability rituals, especially in dining or bar environments. Cans have become the fastest-growing category, fuelled by convenience and compatibility with e-commerce and outdoor consumption. Other packaging types, like kegs and growlers, support niche spaces such as microbreweries or festival distribution. Each packaging form comes with specific handling, branding, and logistic dynamics that shape manufacturer and distributor priorities, ranging from visual impact and shelf-life to recyclability and consumer preferences tied to on-premises or off-premises experiences.
Market Breakup by Distribution Channel
Key Insight: Restaurants and bars lead the South Korea beer market value, driven by the nation’s vibrant after-hours culture and premiumisation trend in foodservice offerings. At the same time, retail channels are expanding fastest, as convenience stores and supermarkets innovate with chilled formats, multipacks, and loyalty tie-ins. Both distribution channels address different consumption patterns. Producers and distributors are tailoring SKU sizes, price points, and branding based on the venue and consumer mood, ensuring their portfolios are nimble across both high-margin service venues and cost-sensitive self-service retail spaces.
By Packaging Material, Glass Accounts for the Larger Share of the Market
Glass packaging remains dominant in the industry, especially in premium and on-trade categories. Restaurants and hotels prefer glass bottles for their visual appeal and ability to preserve flavour integrity. This has improved the environmental profile of glass packaging, further boosting its desirability among sustainability-conscious B2B clients like boutique bars and hotel chains offering curated beer menus. The weight and structure of glass also offer premium shelf impact, enhancing branding for limited-edition and craft variants. Such advantages make glass a preferred material in curated beverage portfolios and upscale environments.
Aluminium cans are emerging fast in terms of South Korea beer market share owing to their portability, cost-efficiency, and lightweight logistics. These cans witness a spike in demand from e-commerce and convenience store chains like CU and GS25. Many brewers are launching limited-edition designs on cans to target seasonal trends. This versatility in branding and low transportation cost has made metal the go-to for direct-to-retail distribution. Cans also offer a larger printable surface for visual storytelling, helping B2B retailers boost shelf visibility. Their chilling capability and smaller size formats are particularly appealing to younger urban consumers, fuelling impulse purchases in high-traffic retail zones.
By Packaging Type, Bottle Register the Larger Share of the Market
Bottled packaging continues to boost beer demand in South Korea through restaurants and upscale bars. The presentation quality and durability make bottles the preferred format in places where brand positioning and visual presentation matter. Many South Korean breweries have incorporated unique bottle designs with embossed logos, catering to B2B clients who want exclusivity and strong shelf presence. Additionally, the container return programme subsidised by the government lowers net packaging cost, making it economically viable for volume purchasers.
As per the South Korea beer market report, cans are growing fast, especially within retail and convenience stores. They are easy to chill, stack, and display, offering logistical simplicity. The booming e-commerce delivery model in South Korea is also favouring cans, as breakage risk is minimised. Brands are also using augmented reality on cans, such as QR codes linking to music or brewing stories, which appeals to the younger, tech-savvy customer base and offers B2B buyers innovative selling angles. One notable example is the Letsee Beer app, which uses AR to display information about different beers when scanned with a smartphone camera.
By Distribution Channel, Restaurants and Bars Dominate the Industry
Restaurants and bars remain the biggest distribution channel, accounting for a significant share of premium and craft beer sales in South Korea. With rising demand for experiential dining, B2B buyers here look for exclusive SKUs, seasonal brews, and local stories behind each label. Specialised bar menus now often include tasting notes and pairings, creating strong upselling opportunities. Strategic tie-ups with brewers are helping these venues stand out while keeping product rotation fresh and appealing.
Retail is growing fast, particularly through convenience stores and online grocery platforms like Market Kurly, boosting the South Korea beer demand forecast. Post-COVID shopping trends have resulted in more people buying beer in multi-packs for home drinking. This shift is encouraging B2B players can, hence, increase availability of canned and smaller-bottle formats, and partner with delivery services. Special in-store promotions and bundled SKUs are also helping improve sales rates.
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Most of the South Korea beer market players are focusing on product diversification, with low- and non-alcoholic variants gaining traction among health-conscious patrons. Craft breweries are being courted for joint ventures and co-branding efforts. Smart packaging, limited editions, and hyperlocal marketing are being prioritised to register B2B demand. Partnerships with fine-dining groups, sports arenas, and entertainment venues are key focus areas.
Rising consumer interest in regionally inspired beers, such as those themed around Jeju or Gangwon, offers South Korea beer companies an opportunity to target niche local markets and strengthen geographic brand appeal. Craft beer growth, smart brewing technology, premiumisation, eco-friendly practices, and pop-culture branding are defining trends shaping B2B dynamics and consumer appeal in the South Korean beer landscape. E-commerce distribution and D2C logistics are also opening up new business models, especially in urban regions.
Oriental Brewery, a part of AB InBev, is South Korea's largest brewer. In addition to a variety of other top-selling mainstream beers like OB Golden Lager and Cafri, Oriental Brewery distributes the well-known beer brand Cass. Additionally, a large number of AB InBev brands, including Beck's, Budweiser (in cans), Leffe, Corona, Stella Artois, and Löwenbräu are imported and distributed by the business in Korea. The business is headquartered in Cheongju, South Korea.
Local craft beer producer Magpie is from South Korea. With the straightforward objective of producing excellent, distinctive beer, Magpie Brewing Company was founded in 2011. The business designed its first two formulations, Magpie Pale Ale and Magpie Porter, to be flavourful but simple to drink. The company is known for their range of craft beers and for popularising the concept in the country. The headquarters of Magpie Brewing Co. is situated in Seoul, South Korea.
Established in 1933 and headquartered in Seoul, Hite Brewery is South Korea’s oldest and most dominant beer producer. The company focuses on both mainstream lagers and niche low-alcohol variants. In recent years, the firm has collaborated with technology partners to digitise its supply chain and optimise distribution for high-frequency B2B clients like restaurant chains and large-scale event organisers.
Founded in 1864, headquartered in Amsterdam, Heineken has made significant inroads in South Korea by positioning itself as a premium imported product. Through local partnerships and selective distribution, it has penetrated premium hotel bars and upscale retail. The firm recent push into sustainable packaging and customised event collaborations with pop-up lounges has given it strong brand equity among South Korea’s urban elite.
*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*
Other key players in the market are Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., LTD., LOTTE Asahi Co., Ltd., BK Co.,Ltd., Magpie Brewing Co., Galmegi Brewing Co., and Jeju Beer Co., Ltd, among others.
Explore the latest trends shaping the South Korea beer market 2026-2035 with our in-depth report. Gain strategic insights, future forecasts, and key market developments that can help you stay competitive. Download a free sample report or contact our team for customized consultation on South Korea beer market trends 2026.
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In 2025, the South Korea beer market reached an approximate value of USD 22.11 Billion.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.60% between 2026 and 2035.
The market is estimated to witness a healthy growth in the forecast period of 2026-2035 to reach USD 34.67 Billion by 2035.
Key strategies driving the market include investing in smart packaging, partnering with themed venues, expanding regional SKUs, and leveraging sustainability for branding.
The implementation of a volume-based liquor tax on beer as well as premiumization are the key trends in the South Korean beer market.
The dominant types of beer packaging in the industry are bottle and cans.
The leading distribution channels in the market are into retail and restaurants and bars.
The major players in the industry Oriental Brewery, Magpie Brewing Co., Hite Brewery Company Limited, Heineken N.V., Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., LTD., LOTTE Asahi Co., Ltd., BK Co.,Ltd., Magpie Brewing Co., Galmegi Brewing Co., and Jeju Beer Co., Ltd, among others.
The key challenges are market saturation, intense price wars, and regulatory complexities around alcohol advertising are primary hurdles. Additionally, maintaining taste consistency in small batches poses quality control issues for craft brewers.
Explore our key highlights of the report and gain a concise overview of key findings, trends, and actionable insights that will empower your strategic decisions.
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Historical Period | 2019-2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2035 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
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| Breakup by Packaging Material |
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| Breakup by Packaging Type |
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| Breakup by Distribution Channel |
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| Market Dynamics |
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| Trade Data Analysis |
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| Competitive Landscape |
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| Companies Covered |
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