COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Kwang Dong Pharm maintains lead of bottled water and extends brand rights
Kwang Dong Pharm Co Ltd continued to assert its leadership of bottled water in South Korea in off-trade volume terms in 2025, through the highly successful Jeju Samdasoo brand, which operates exclusively within still spring bottled water. In 2025, the company secured the exclusive nationwide sales rights for Jeju Samdasoo across all distribution channels (excluding Jeju Island) for the period 2026 to 2029.
Digital advances and flavour innovation drive dynamic growth for Woongjin Food
Woongjin Food Co Ltd was the most dynamic company in bottled water in South Korea in off-trade volume terms in 2025, largely driven by the exceptional performance of its Victoria brand. In contrast to Jeju Samdasoo, Victoria has no presence in still bottled water, but commanded leadership in flavoured bottled water and secured third position in carbonated bottled water in 2025.
Private label is reshaping bottled water with value and convenience
Bottled water South Korea, traditionally dominated by established brands such as Jeju Samdasoo, Lotte Icis, and Baeksansu, is experiencing a notable shift, with the increasing prominence of private label lines. This trend continued robustly in 2025, evidenced by a two percentage point increase in the private label off-trade volume share.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Bottled Water 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 Bottled Water 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 Bottled Water 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 Bottled Water in South Korea?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Bottled Water 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 Bottled Water in South Korea?
- Which are the leading brands in Bottled Water in South Korea?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in South Korea?
- How are products distributed in Bottled Water 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 Bottled Water?
- 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?
Bottled Water in South Korea - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Flavour, convenience, and sustainability evident in bottled water in South Korea
Online convenience and demographics ensure resilience for bottled water
Flavoured and carbonated bottled water lead growth
Health, premiumisation, and sustainability will be evident in bottled water
Strategies such as transparency and online partnerships to drive brand loyalty
Sustainable packaging takes centre stage in bottled water in South Korea
Kwang Dong Pharm maintains lead of bottled water and extends brand rights
Digital advances and flavour innovation drive dynamic growth for Woongjin Food
Private label is reshaping bottled water with value and convenience
Convenience and cost-effectiveness drive growth for retail e-commerce
Busy lives mean convenience stores and vending are popular for on-the-go purchases
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
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Bottled Water
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- Carbonated Natural Mineral Bottled Water
- Carbonated Spring Bottled Water
- Carbonated Purified Bottled Water
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- Still Flavoured Bottled Water
- Sparkling Flavoured Bottled Water
- Functional Bottled Water
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- Still Natural Mineral Bottled Water
- Still Spring Bottled Water
- Still Purified Bottled Water
Bottled Water
This category is the aggregation of still bottled water (spring, mineral & purified), carbonated bottled water (spring, mineral & purified), flavoured bottled water and functional bottled water. Bulk bottled water is split out separately. It is defined as packaged drinking water – purified, spring or mineral – that is packaged in a container of 8 litres or larger. The bulk bottled water data types apply to Still Bottled Water and Carbonated Bottled Water but do not apply to functional or flavoured bottled water. Bulk water is classified according to the new Bulk retail volume and Bulk retail value data type regardless of channel of sale: bulk water sold via retail locations and bulk water delivered direct to a consumer’s home is included. Bulk water sold to institutions (offices, schools etc.) remains excluded.
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 Bottled Water research and analysis database.
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