Pet care in 2025: The big picture
Despite facing challenges amidst economic slowdown, pet care in South Korea continued to demonstrate resilience and growth in both retail volume and current value terms in 2024, and similar growth rates are expected to continue in 2025. However, an additional challenge was seen in 2024, which has continued to have an impact in 2025. In the first half of 2024, South Korea faced a tragic incident in which nearly 200 cats died after consuming certain domestically produced pet foods. The affected cats exhibited symptoms such as limping and severe lethargy, prompting widespread concern amongst pet owners. Despite extensive investigations, the exact cause was never clearly identified, which only heightened consumers’ anxiety.
2025 key trends
Pet products is expected to continue to account for the highest sales within pet care in South Korea in 2025. With the wide range of products covered in this category, including regular-use products such as cat litter and pet dietary supplements, it is also set to maintain solid current value growth. Nevertheless, cat food is anticipated to see the strongest percentage increase in value sales in 2025, due to the constant rise in the cat population. Cats are becoming a preferred choice of pet as they are easy to look after, especially in urban areas, where space in homes is limited, and there is not as much open space for dogs to play and exercise freely.
Competitive landscape
The rise of low-margin brands indicates increased price sensitivity amongst consumers. Despite these challenges, Royal Canin emerged as the leading player in pet care in South Korea in the review period, and saw a continuous increase in its value share over the last few years, which continued in 2024. In 2024, Royal Canin accounted for nearly a double-digit share of overall value sales in pet care, and a higher share in pet food. In cat food, it accounted for more than a fifth of sales. Its success can be attributed to the brand’s strong recognition and trustworthiness, allowing it to thrive even during economic hardships, and especially in light of the cat deaths in 2024.
Retail developments
As one of the most advanced online markets in the world, in South Korea more than two thirds of value sales of pet care products took place through retail e-commerce in 2024, and the channel’s share is expected to increase further in 2025. It is also expected to see the strongest increase in its value share in this year. Amongst online retailers, Coupang and Naver are the two dominant platforms, each offering distinct value to consumers. Coupang operates as a closed marketplace with its own logistics system, offering features such as same-day delivery and next-day Rocket Delivery. With a paid membership programme that includes benefits such as free shipping and discount coupons, Coupang has become a go-to platform for convenience-oriented shoppers. However, because products are either sold directly by Coupang or by sellers registered on its platform, some brands may not be available. Naver, on the other hand, functions as a search-based intermediary, aggregating listings from a wide range of online retailers. This allows users to browse and compare a vast selection of products and prices across different stores. As a result, Naver is especially attractive to price-sensitive consumers, or those who prefer to explore multiple brands before purchasing. Thanks to its unmatched convenience, Coupang has gained a significant share in pet care. However, specialised pet vertical platforms have struggled in recent years. As price competitiveness has become a top priority for consumers, towards the end of the review period many pet owners shifted away from niche vertical platforms to broader e-commerce marketplaces. In response, vertical platforms have begun expanding their private label offerings – providing affordable yet high-quality treats and pet products – to appeal to value-driven consumers and build platform loyalty.
What next for pet care?
Pet care in South Korea is expected to see a solid retail value CAGR at constant 2025 prices in the forecast period, with sales set to increase across all the main categories. However, cat food is set to see the strongest growth. This trend will be driven by continued growth in the cat population, which will outpace that of dogs and other pets.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Pet Care 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.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Cat Food
- Dog Food
- Other Pet Food
- Pet Products
If you're in the Pet Care 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 Pet Care 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 Pet Care in South Korea?
- Which are the leading brands in Pet Care in South Korea?
- How are products distributed in Pet Care in South Korea?
- How is the rise of e-commerce impacting the retail environment and consumer engagement?
- How are fashions and values in human food echoed in food for pets?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Pet Care in South Korea
Pet care in 2025: The big picture
2025 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for pet care?
DISCLAIMER
Cat Food in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Economic shifts impact growth in cat food
Mass cat deaths incident negatively impacts domestic brands
E-commerce accounts for three quarters of sales of cat food
Cat food will remain a key growth driver in overall pet care
International brands expected to outperform domestic brands
Daiso’s growing influence in cat food
Dog Food in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Dog food continues to record low growth in value sales
Premium price platform sees the highest growth rate in dry dog food
Domestic dog food brands negatively impacted by mass cat death incident
Low growth in the dog population will remain a challenge to growth
Perceived disadvantages of domestic brands set to continue during the forecast period
More products targeting senior dogs are expected, along with the ageing dog population
Other Pet Food in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Other pet food registers decline due to post-pandemic effects and economic uncertainty
High fragmentation and low margins
Exceptional share of sales accounted for by retail e-commerce
Other pet food to retain its minor position despite gradual recovery
Some owners of other pets likely to look for additional benefits in other pet food
E-commerce set to remain the dominant force in distribution
Pet Products in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Pet healthcare maintains strong growth
Cat litter sees steady growth, as a daily essential
Other pet products registers low growth as these are considered non-essential
Pet healthcare expected to lead growth in pet products
More brands and e-commerce platforms expected to collaborate with well-known veterinarians
Other pet products likely to remain highly fragmented
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Pet Care
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- Cat Treats and Mixers
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- Economy Dry Cat Food
- Mid-Priced Dry Cat Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Dry Cat Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Dry Cat Food
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- Economy Wet Cat Food
- Mid-Priced Wet Cat Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Wet Cat Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Wet Cat Food
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- Dog Treats and Mixers
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- Economy Dry Dog Food
- Mid-Priced Dry Dog Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Dry Dog Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Dry Dog Food
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- Economy Wet Dog Food
- Mid-Priced Wet Dog Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Wet Dog Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Wet Dog Food
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- Bird Food
- Fish Food
- Small Mammal/Reptile Food
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- Cat Litter
- Pet Healthcare
- Other Pet Products
Why 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 Pet Care research and analysis database.
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