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South Korea Beer Market Report Overview

The South Korea beer market reached a value of USD 22.11 Billion in 2025 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 4.60% during the forecast period of 2026-2035, reaching a value of USD 34.67 Billion by 2035. Growth is supported by the post 2020 volume based liquor tax that has lowered the effective burden on premium beers, the expansion of more than 180 microbreweries operating in the country, and the rapid shift of off trade volume into convenience store channels.

Key Market Trends and Insights

  • Capital Region (Seoul Metropolitan Area) leads consumption, mirroring the broader South Korea beer market projected CAGR of 4.60% through 2035 
  • Glass packaging continues to dominate the South Korea beer market by volume, reflecting the strong preference for returnable 330 ml and 500 ml bottle formats in restaurants and bars 
  • Bottle remains the leading packaging type in the South Korea beer market, although cans are taking share rapidly through convenience store distribution 

Market Size and Forecast

  • Market Size in 2025: USD 22.11 Billion
  • Projected Market Size in 2035: USD 34.67 Billion
  • CAGR from 2026 to 2035: 4.60%
2025

Base Year

2019-2025

Historical Period

2026-2035

Forecast Period

Compound Annual Growth Rate

4.6%

Value in USD Billion

2026-2035


*this image is indicative*

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Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in South Korea after soju, and drinking remains a deeply social activity that runs through office gatherings, friend meet ups and dining out culture. According to data from the Korea Customs Service compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the country imported beer worth USD 218 million in 2023, while the United States alone increased its beer exports to South Korea by 35% to USD 23 million in 2024. Domestic giants Oriental Brewery and HiteJinro continue to anchor the market, but the structure of demand is changing in real time. Younger drinkers are looking for variety, quality and lower abv options.

A clear growth driver is the volume based liquor tax regime that has applied to beer since January 2020. Under the latest July 2024 update, the levy stands at 885.7 won per liter, with a 20% discount for kegs of more than eight liters supplied to restaurants and bars until 2026. Because the tax is now linked to volume rather than price, premium and craft brands are no longer penalised for higher production costs, which has encouraged more than 180 microbreweries and a wave of imported premium launches such as the Asahi Super Dry Draft Can imported by Lotte Asahi Liquor. The shift is feeding directly into the South Korea beer demand forecast.

Key Trends and Recent Developments

south korea beer market by segments

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Segmentation of the South Korea Beer Market

The report by Expert Market Research 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

  • Glass
  • Metal
  • PET

Key Insight: Glass packaging remains the leading material in the South Korea beer market, anchored by the long established preference for returnable 330 ml and 500 ml bottles in the on trade. Cass, Hite, Terra and Kelly all continue to be served primarily in glass at restaurants and bars, where bottle deposit and refill systems remain efficient. Metal is the fastest expanding packaging material, driven by the convenience store channel where 355 ml, 470 ml and 500 ml cans dominate single serve and multipack purchases. Lotte Chilsung extended its KRUSH brand into 355 ml, 470 ml and 500 ml cans following the November 2023 bottle launch, citing rising off trade and youth driven demand. PET packaging holds a niche role, mainly in larger format value packs.

Market Breakup by Packaging Type

  • Bottle
  • Can
  • Others

Key Insight: Bottle continues to be the leading packaging type by volume, reflecting the dominance of restaurants and bars in social drinking and the long history of returnable 330 ml bottle formats supplied through wholesale vendors. Can volumes are expanding fastest, helped by retail discounting and pack innovation such as Asahi Super Dry Draft Can, which became the country's best selling imported beer at major convenience store chains in 2023. The "Others" category covers kegs supplied to bars and pubs, which benefit from the 20% volume based tax discount on kegs over eight liters until 2026.

Market Breakup by Distribution Channel

  • Restaurants and Bars
  • Retail

Key Insight: Restaurants and bars (the on trade) historically held the largest share of beer volumes in South Korea, supported by the country's entrenched social drinking culture. According to the aT Food Information Statistics System cited by USDA FAS, convenience stores alone accounted for around 42% of total beer sales in 2023, overtaking hypermarkets and specialised shops within the retail bucket. Retail growth is supported by extended operating hours, single serve formats and aggressive multipack promotions. The on trade is recovering after the post pandemic slump but is expected to lose share gradually as home drinking, online ordering through platforms such as Market Kurly and convenience store stocking continue to grow.

Market Breakdown by Region

  • Seoul Metropolitan Area (Capital Region)
  • Gyeonggi Province
  • Busan and the Southeast Industrial Belt
  • Other Provinces (Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan, Jeju and the rest of Korea)

Key Insight: The Capital Region, anchored by Seoul and Incheon, accounts for the largest share of national beer demand thanks to its dense population, high concentration of office workers and the country's most developed restaurant, bar and convenience store networks. The Gyeonggi suburbs add further weight, while Busan has emerged as a second craft beer hub backed by Galmegi Brewing Co. and other local producers. Jeju island is over indexed in craft beer through Magpie Brewing Co. (which moved its production to Jeju in 2017) and Jeju Beer Co., the country's largest craft brewery. Major investments in production capacity include Lotte Chilsung's greenfield Kloud brewery in Chungju and HiteJinro's 2025 Integrated Research Institute in Yongin, both centred in the Capital Region commuter belt.

South Korea Beer Market Share

Share by Packaging Type

Bottles continue to lead in the share by packaging type. The leadership comes from the same on trade dynamic as in packaging material, with bottles structurally preferred for sit down dining and group consumption. The picture in retail is reversing rapidly though. Convenience stores, which according to USDA FAS captured roughly 42% of total beer sales in 2023, predominantly stock cans because they travel better, chill faster and lend themselves to four packs and discount bundles. Asahi Super Dry Draft Can, imported by Lotte Asahi Liquor, helped accelerate the shift to cans by demonstrating that retail can innovation can produce on tap quality foam at home. Kegs, sold under the "Others" bucket, occupy a smaller but profitable on trade niche and benefit from the volume based liquor tax discount on kegs over eight liters.

Share by Distribution Channel

Within distribution, the retail channel led by convenience stores is the dominant and fastest expanding sub channel, while restaurants and bars retain a substantial share that is gradually compressing. According to USDA FAS, convenience stores alone accounted for about 42% of total beer sales in 2023. The fragmentation of out of home occasions during and after the pandemic, combined with longer convenience store operating hours, single can purchase ease and persistent multipack promotions of up to 33%, has cemented retail leadership. The on trade is rebuilding around theme bars, experiential brewpubs and themed venues. Strategic tie ups between brewers and these venues are being used to keep tap rotation fresh, support new product launches and protect on trade margins.

south korea beer market report

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Regional Analysis of  South Korea Beer Industry

Capital Region (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi)

The Capital Region is the centre of gravity for the South Korea beer market. Seoul alone hosts the bulk of the country's convenience store density, full service restaurants, hotel and pub clusters in Itaewon, Hongdae, Gangnam and Yeouido. It also concentrates the highest share of millennial and Gen Z drinkers who are leading the move toward craft, premium imports and non alcoholic beer. The region anchors production and innovation as well: Oriental Brewery is owned by AB InBev and distributes brands such as Cass, Cafri, Budweiser, Hoegaarden and Stella Artois through Korean wholesalers, while HiteJinro operates Hite, Terra and Kelly out of long established facilities and opened its consolidated Integrated Research Institute in Yongin Dongbaek District in March 2025.

Busan and Jeju (Coastal and Craft Hubs)

Busan, the country's second largest city, has emerged as a craft beer counterweight to Seoul. Galmegi Brewing Co., headquartered in Busan, runs multiple taprooms and has used the volume based liquor tax reform of 2020 onwards to scale its core lineup. Jeju Island has built a parallel craft identity. Magpie Brewing Co., founded in Seoul in 2011, moved its production to Jeju in 2016 to 2017, repurposing a tangerine warehouse on the island's north coast. Jeju Beer Co., described by Asia Brewers Network as Korea's largest craft brewer, is leading the non alcoholic pivot with its Jeju Nouveau range and three new low or zero abv launches confirmed for 2025. Together, Busan and Jeju are positioning the regional craft segment as the creative engine of the broader South Korea beer industry.
 

Competitive Landscape

The South Korea beer market is structurally consolidated. Three large scale licensed brewers, namely Oriental Brewery, HiteJinro and Lotte Chilsung Beverage, account for the bulk of domestic production, with the United States Department of Agriculture FAS noting that Oriental Brewery and HiteJinro alone represented more than 70% of overall beer market sales in 2023. Korean licensing rules require minimum capacity of 250,000 liters for fermentation tanks and 500,000 liters for holding tanks for a regular brewery license, which has historically protected the incumbents.

Competition has intensified at the edges of this duopoly. Lotte Asahi Liquor (a joint venture with Asahi Group Holdings) and Heineken Korea have used premium imports to capture meaningful retail share, while a network of more than 180 microbreweries (including Magpie Brewing, Galmegi Brewing and Jeju Beer) is leading innovation in craft, non alcoholic and locally inspired styles supported by the volume based liquor tax. Strategic priorities across the field are premiumisation, health led reformulation, packaging innovation and convenience store ranging.

Oriental Brewery

Founded in 1933 and headquartered in Seoul, Oriental Brewery (OB) is the leading beer producer in South Korea. The company is currently owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), having been repurchased in 2014 after a 2009 sale to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Its flagship Cass has held the number one beer market share in the country for more than a decade. OB also brews and bottles Hoegaarden, Budweiser (bottle) and Stella Artois (draft) for the local market and imports a wider AB InBev portfolio including Corona, Beck's, Leffe and Lowenbrau.

Hite Brewery Company Limited (HiteJinro)

Established in 1933 as Chosun Breweries and headquartered in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Hite Brewery Company Limited operates today as part of HiteJinro Co., Ltd., the group formed after the 2005 to 2011 merger with Jinro. The company is the world leading producer of soju and a top three player in Korean beer with brands including Hite, Terra and Kelly. HiteJinro completed the consolidation of its beer and soju research arms into the Integrated Research Institute in Yongin Dongbaek District in March 2025, supporting product development across categories.

Heineken N.V.

Heineken N.V., founded in 1864 and headquartered in Amsterdam, is one of the world's largest brewers and a leading imported premium player in South Korea through Heineken Korea. The company operates the Heineken, Tiger, Edelweiss, Desperados and Birra Moretti brands among others, and held an estimated 4.1% retail share in the South Korean beer market in 2023 according to Lotte Asahi audit data summarised by The Asia Business Daily. Heineken is leveraging convenience store partnerships and 0.0% non alcoholic line extensions to defend its premium positioning.

Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., LTD.

Lotte Chilsung Beverage was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The company entered the beer category in 2014 with the launch of Kloud, brewed at a newly built greenfield brewery in Chungju with German Steinecker brewing technology, breaking the OB and HiteJinro duopoly. Its current beer portfolio includes Kloud and KRUSH (a stylish next generation brand launched in November 2023 with Karina of aespa as endorser, then extended into 355 ml, 470 ml and 500 ml cans). Kloud Krush won a Silver Medal at the 2024 World Beer Awards.

*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 Asahi Co., Ltd., BK Co., Ltd., Magpie Brewing Co., Galmegi Brewing Co., Jeju Beer Co., Ltd., and Others.

Key Findings from the South Korea Beer Market Report

  • Comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of the South Korea beer market with historical and forecast data from 2026-2035.
  • Detailed segmentation by packaging material (Glass, Metal, PET), packaging type (Bottle, Can, Others) and distribution channel (Restaurants and Bars, Retail).
  • Analysis of the competitive landscape profiling Oriental Brewery, HiteJinro, Heineken N.V., Lotte Chilsung Beverage and craft players such as Magpie, Galmegi and Jeju Beer.
  • Assessment of regulatory impacts including the volume based liquor tax of 885.7 won per liter, the 20% keg discount through 2026, the KORUS FTA and the China-Korea FTA.
  • Insights on consumer behaviour, premiumisation, the rise of non and low alcohol beer, and the convenience store led off trade pivot.
  • Strategic recommendations for brewers, importers and investors based on demand drivers, risks and channel dynamics.

Why Choose Expert Market Research?

  • Our South Korea beer market analysis goes beyond headline growth figures to capture the structural dynamics that drive this market: how the 2020 volume tax reform changed small brewery economics, why non-alcoholic growth is accelerating, and what the Chinese import collapse means for premium positioning across all competing categories.
  • We track the specific cultural drivers, somaek culture, Han River outdoor consumption, K-pop brand partnerships, Seongsu-dong experiential retail, that determine how and where beer is consumed and discovered in South Korea.
  • Clients in global brewing, import distribution, retail channel management, packaging strategy, and investment use our intelligence to navigate a market where cultural context and regulatory history explain growth dynamics better than standard consumer trend analysis alone.
  • Research scope is customisable across product category depth, regional Korean market breakdowns, trade flow analysis, or competitive brand positioning studies.

Call to Action

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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*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*

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Key Questions Answered in the Report

At 2025, the 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 key players in the market include Oriental Brewery, 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., Jeju Beer Co., Ltd., and 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.

Report Summary

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.

Key Highlights of the Report

Please note that the figures mentioned in the description serve as estimates and may vary from the actual figures presented in the final report.

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:

  • Packaging Material
  • Packaging Type
  • Distribution Channel
Breakup by Packaging Material
  • Glass
  • Metal
  • PET
Breakup by Packaging Type
  • Bottle
  • Can
  • Others
Breakup by Distribution Channel
  • Restaurants and Bars
  • Retail
Market Dynamics
  • SWOT Analysis 
  • Porter's Five Forces Analysis 
  • Key Indicators for Demand
  • Key Indicators for Price
Trade Data Analysis
  • Major Exporting Countries
    • By Value
    • By Volume
  • Major Importing Countries
    • By Value
    • By Volume
Competitive Landscape
  • Market Structure
  • Company Profiles
    • Company Overview
    • Product Portfolio
    • Demographic Reach and Achievements
    • Certifications
Companies Covered
  • Oriental Brewery
  • 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.
  • Jeju Beer Co., Ltd.
  • Others

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