COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Lotte and Woongjin adapt to health trends in Asian specialty drinks
In 2025, Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co Ltd, with its Pine Bud Drink Forte, remained the leading player in Asian specialty drinks in South Korea in off-trade volume terms, closely followed by Woongjin Food Co Ltd with its Morning Rice. However, both established brands experienced a notable decline in sales and share.
JungKwanJang leads growth in Asian specialty drinks due to health and heritage
In 2025, KT&G Corp's JungKwanJang brand was a significant growth driver within Asian speciality drinks in South Korea in off-trade volume terms, recording the strongest growth among individual players. This success was largely fuelled by a burgeoning consumer interest in health and wellness.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Asian Speciality Drinks industry in South Korea with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
If you're in the Asian Speciality Drinks industry in South Korea, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea?
- How are changing social attitudes and legislation (eg sugar tax) reshaping demand and consumption?
- How are changing demographics (for example, an ageing or predominantly young population) determining consumption of Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea?
- Which are the leading brands in Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in South Korea?
- How are products distributed in Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea?
- How is the rise of e-commerce changing the retail and competitive landscape?
- How have home seclusion and social distancing measures following COVID-19 impacted sales of Asian Speciality Drinks?
- How are sustainability issues, such as environmentally-friendly packaging, legislation on recyclability, or the amount of plastic in bottles, impacting the soft drinks industry?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
K-culture, zero sugar, and digital shifts drive modest growth
K-culture and zero sugar fuel modest growth in Asian speciality drinks
“Loconomy” trend drives innovation in Asian speciality drinks
Navigating low growth with innovations that appeal to younger consumers
Rice-based beverages could tap into health and wellness trends for growth
Healthy ageing and traditional tastes could spell success for Asian speciality drinks
Lotte and Woongjin adapt to health trends in Asian specialty drinks
JungKwanJang leads growth in Asian specialty drinks due to health and heritage
Hypermarkets remains key for sales of Asian specialty drinks due to accessibility
JungKwanJang's digital strategy amidst e-commerce boom and inflation
Soft Drinks in South Korea - Industry Overview
Health trends and channel shifts are reshaping soft drinks
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health trends drive polarisation amidst static volumes
Inflation fuels shift to private label and varied pack sizes
Health-conscious consumers fuel premiumisation in soft drinks
Soft drinks embraces cultural trends for growth in South Korea
Health awareness and regulation to reshape soft drinks in South Korea
Players will move towards premiumisation, eco-packaging, and digital channels
Lotte Chilsung and Coca-Cola Drive Innovation and Health Trends
Character-led innovation drives dynamic growth for Paldo
Convenience stores is an important distribution channel due to on-the-go appeal
Retail e-commerce platforms are driving efficiency and value in soft drinks
Foodservice sees steady but sluggish recovery towards pre-pandemic levels
Fountain sales in South Korea
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Asian Speciality Drinks
This category includes all traditional Asian drinks not included in RTD tea or juice drinks, including products such as Bandung (rose syrup with milk), bird’s nest, tamarind juice, ginger, lemongrass, roselle, zalaka, jelly drinks including grass jelly (cincau), sugar cane, and vinegar drinks. Lactic acid drinks, such as Calpis, are included here. Drinks containing a limited amount of yogurt (generally 3% or less) such as Bikkle, are included here, though drinking yogurts such as Yakult are excluded. While both products are highly popular in markets like Japan, drinking yogurts will contain mostly yogurt with a very short shelf life (two weeks or less), while yogurt drinks will contain less than 3% dairy and remain on the shelves for up to 9 months. All nut or pulse-based products, such as peanut milk, almond juice, or soy drinks are tracked in Non-Dairy Milk alternatives in Passport Packaged Food.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Asian Speciality Drinks research and analysis database.
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