South Korea Organic Food Market Share, Size, Growth, Report: By Product Type: Fruits and Vegetables, Meat, Fish, and Poultry, Dairy Products, Cereals and Grain, Others; By Process: Processed, Unprocessed; By Distribution Channels: Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, Others; Competitive Landscape; 2024-2032

South Korea Organic Food Market Outlook 

The South Korea organic food market reached a value of about USD 1.73 billion in 2023. The industry is further anticipated to grow at a CAGR of about 7.4% in the forecast period of 2024-2032 to reach a value of around USD 3.29 billion by 2032. The most prominent factor driving the consumption of organic food products is the high demand, especially after COVID-19, and government support to shift from pesticide farming to organic farming. 

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Growing Demand for Organic Food Products and the Government’s Active Support for Organic Farming is Driving the Organic Food Market in South Korea

South Korea provides ideal models  for nature-based solutions by emphasising making the use of locally available raw materials, prioritising native crops, and elevating the use of organic products while minimising waste. The growing prevalence of organic agricultural methods and environmental sustainability has captured the interest of environmentally concerned people who are willing to spend more money on organic foods. Due to extensive consumer demand for organic foods, the South Korea market for organic foods is predicted to continue to rise steadily. The government has been working diligently to support farmers  in doing organic farming to increase income and meet market demand.

Despite the fact that the pandemic upset global supply systems and caused distress among farmers, it has also encouraged consumers to switch to organic products. Food literacy means the capability to decide what to buy based on the information consumers require about food, and technology has been crucial in enlightening consumers about nutritious food options. Consumers have become mindful about what they eat due to rising concerns about the use of pesticides in food products from conventional farming. This has compelled the players in the South Korea organic food market to devise novel strategies in order to guarantee that they live up to public expectations.

Segmentation of South Korea Organic Food Market 

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The term "organic" refers to the methods used to produce food products. Organic foods are grown or farmed without using the following chemicals:

• Artificial chemicals

• Antibiotics

• Hormones

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

A food product must be free from synthetic food additives like artificial sweeteners, flavouring, preservatives, artificial colouring, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in order to be labelled organic. 

Based on product type, the South Korea organic market can be segmented into:

• Fruits and Vegetables

• Meat, Fish, and Poultry

• Dairy Products

• Cereals and Grains

• Others

On the basis of process, the organic food market of South Korea can be segmented into:

• Processed

• Unprocessed

Based on distribution channel, the South Korea organic food market can be divided into:

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

• Convenience Stores

• Speciality Stores

• Online Stores

• Others

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Increased Health Benefits Accelerated the Sale of Organic Food Products in South Korea

Conventional food is already expensive  in South Korea. As a result, during the coronavirus crisis, people began spending more on organic food products to boost their immunity, resulting in the rapid expansion of South Korea organic food market. Organic food products have many health benefits which people look out for after recovering from COVID-19 and various other diseases. Some of the most preferred organic foods in South Korea are processed fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, cereals and grains, and dairy items, among others. Processed organic food items, such as organic drinks, cookies, and meat substitutes, among others, are also available and well-consumed by the Korean population. This drives research and development in the organic food industry and propels companies to launch more healthy organic foods in the Korean market.

Organic foods contain nutrients  and high levels of antioxidants, such as vitamin C, zinc, and iron, among others. Antioxidant levels are up to 67-69% higher in organically produced foods. The nitrate level in organically grown food is about 28-30% lower, which reduces the risk of developing cancer and methemoglobinemia. Moreover, Organic dairy food items also have increased levels of iron, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and carotenoids. According to some studies, organic meat has a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and a slightly lower level of saturated fats, promoting good heart health. These health benefits provide a great market opportunity for key players in the South Korea organic food industry.

Organic foods cultivated in healthier soil provide more nutrients and, in many cases, taste better than conventional foods. As a result, the demand for such food products has risen dramatically. People are willing to spend more on healthy alternatives; therefore, demand for organically produced food is growing, and Covid-19 has also bolstered organic food sales in Korea.

Social media marketing and celebrity influence are standard components of advertisements. Several food brands get celebrities to endorse their products. Several food brands get celebrities to endorse their products. The K-media and people of South Korea refer to K-pop singer Hwasa's ability to massively increase sales only by utilising a product as the "Hwasa Effect." Lotte home shopping tied up with Hwasa and launched a new food product with the name Hwazakaya. Moreover, news and magazines also motivate consumers to opt for certain foods and lifestyles. Following a celebrity's lifestyle and the products, they endorse is a very prominent trend in the country, thereby bolstering the organic food industry of South Korea.

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Key players

The report provides an in-depth research of the following prominent players in the South Korea organic food market, giving a detailed understanding about the competitive landscape, capacity, and recent developments including mergers, acquisitions, and investments, capacity expansion, and plant turnarounds:

• Pulmuone Corporate

• Meil Co. Ltd.

• Hipp GmbH & Co Vertrieb KG

• The Chorocmaeul Co., Ltd.

• Others

The EMR report provides a detailed assessment of the market on the basis of the Porter's five forces model, combined with a SWOT analysis.

Key Highlights of the Report

*At Expert Market Research, we strive to always give you current and accurate information. The numbers depicted in the description are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the final EMR report.