Health trends and channel shifts are reshaping soft drinks
In 2025, soft drinks in South Korea experienced static off-trade volumes, but significant polarisation. Health-driven, functional, and zero sugar options saw robust growth, while traditional categories like juice and concentrates declined, reflecting heightened consumer awareness of wellness. Inflation spurred a shift towards private label and varied pack sizes, demanding compelling health or lifestyle benefits from premium brands. Innovation was deeply tied to cultural trends and emotional resonance, often driven by convenience stores for on-the-go consumption. E-commerce grew for bulk purchases, while foodservice slowly recovered post-pandemic, although retail remained dominant. Lotte Chilsung continued to lead through strategic adaptation to these trends. Driven by heightened health awareness, lifestyle shifts, and evolving regulations, soft drinks is anticipated to see modest growth, with demand accelerating for functional, low sugar, and eco-friendly beverages.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Soft 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.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Bottled Water
- Carbonates
- Concentrates
- Juice
- RTD Coffee
- RTD Tea
- Energy Drinks
- Sports Drinks
- Asian Speciality Drinks
If you're in the Soft 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 Soft 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 Soft Drinks in South Korea?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Soft 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 Soft Drinks in South Korea?
- Which are the leading brands in Soft Drinks in South Korea?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in South Korea?
- How are products distributed in Soft 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 Soft 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?
Soft Drinks in South Korea
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
Bottled Water in South Korea
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
Carbonates in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health, innovation, and shifting dynamics in carbonates
South Korea's "slow ageing" trend fuels growth for reduced sugar carbonates
Flavour innovation seen alongside zero calorie expansion in carbonates
Taste and health concerns expected to shape carbonates in South Korea
Lotte Chilsung aims to ensure transparency, inclusivity and trust through Food QR
Paldo's Pororo Tok achieves certification for its children's carbonates
Lotte Chilsung's strategic diversification narrows gap with Coca-Cola
Flavour innovation from Hite Jinro helps drive growth for tonic water in South Korea
Convenience stores extends its lead in carbonates in 2025
Coca-Cola's 'Red Ribbon' campaign elevates foodservice engagement
Concentrates in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Navigating the shift to RTD products through innovation and e-commerce
Concentrates faces challenges from ready-to-drink alternatives in South Korea
Liquid concentrates sees the better performance in 2025 thanks to apple cider vinegar beverages
Navigating decline with healthier variants and customisation
Players will continue to adapt as traditional kombucha faces challenges
Brands innovate traditional favourites for health-conscious Koreans
Key strategies for top concentrates brands in South Korea
Teazen faces double-digit volume decline amidst shifting consumer preferences
Hypermarkets dominates concentrates through value and strategic placement
Retail e-commerce is reshaping new product launches in concentrates
Concentrates conversions
Juice in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health trend and demographic shifts reshape juice in Korea
Juice faces headwinds as consumers move away from sugar in all forms
Natural nutrients and vegetable juices cushion decline in juice
More players in juice expected to navigate decline with functional innovation
Kim's Club watermelon juice redefines freshness and convenience in juice in Korea
A debate is brewing over sweeteners in zero sugar children’s juices in South Korea
Lotte Chilsung innovates with low sugar juices for health-conscious consumers
Paldo sees robust growth as brands innovate for young consumers in South Korea
Subscription models ensure retail e-commerce extends its distribution lead
The enduring importance of convenience stores for sales of juice in South Korea
RTD Coffee in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
RTD coffee adapts to new consumer demands and dynamics
RTD coffee faces decline amidst category fatigue and rising costs
RTD coffee brands adapt to consumer demand in South Korea
Despite forecast volume decline, premiumisation and decaffeination may offer hope
More players will adapt to MZ generation's demand for health and design
More players in RTD coffee likely to embrace sustainable innovation
Lotte leads RTD coffee amidst fierce competition for MZ consumers
How major franchised coffee brands are reshaping RTD coffee in South Korea
Convenience stores elevate quality and choice in RTD coffee in South Korea
E-commerce is key for innovation and brand building in RTD coffee
RTD Tea in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health and wellness trends and differentiation shape RTD tea in South Korea
RTD tea gains momentum as a wellness-driven beverage choice in South Korea
Functional RTD teas reshape South Korea's soft drinks landscape
Steady growth to be driven by innovation and health trends
RTD tea brands to capitalise on different tea bases and the wellness trend
Differentiation will be key to success in RTD tea in South Korea
Lotte Chilsung maintains its lead, but Dongwon benefits from aggressive promotion
Oi Ocha attracts younger consumers by incorporating matcha-based variants
Convenience stores reigns supreme in RTD tea distribution
Online retail reshapes RTD tea distribution and innovation in South Korea
Energy Drinks in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Diversification of consumers, channels, and offerings in energy drinks
Energy drinks adapts to broader appeal and diverse consumption occasions
Reduced sugar energy drinks reshapes consumption but regular still dominates
Health consciousness will continue to reshape energy drinks in South Korea
Affordability and authenticity will be important, as seen from the success of Eolbaksa
Diversifying energy drinks to cater to consumers’ evolving lifestyles
Leading brands are shaping energy drinks through innovation and diversification
Lotte Chilsung innovates with Hot 6 The Pro, blending energy and protein
Convenience stores dominates energy drinks due to impulse and accessibility
The growing influence of retail e-commerce in energy drinks in South Korea
Sports Drinks in South Korea
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth for sports drinks due to fitness trends and heatwaves
Robust growth for sports drinks in South Korea amidst evolving fitness trends
The challenge of balancing functionality and health in sports drinks
Tapping new demographics in sports drinks likely to contribute to growth
Blurring of categories, but innovation and collaborations set to drive growth
The rise of sugar-free and natural formulations in sports drinks
Pocari Sweat’s share challenged by competition from companies and other formats
Lotte Group's new 2% DBH launch adapts to health-focused consumers
Convenience stores cements its leadership in sports drinks due to on-the-go demand
Digital channels reshape South Korea's sports drinks distribution landscape
Asian Speciality Drinks in South Korea
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
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Soft Drinks
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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
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- Regular Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Carbonates
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- Regular Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Cola Carbonates
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- Regular Non-Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Non-Cola Carbonates
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- Regular Lemonade/Lime
- Reduced Sugar Lemonade/Lime
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- Regular Tonic Water/Mixers/Other Bitters
- Reduced Sugar Tonic Water/Mixers/Other Bitters
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- Regular Orange Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Orange Carbonates
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- Regular Other Non-Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Other Non-Cola Carbonates
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- Liquid Concentrates
- Powder Concentrates
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- Not from Concentrate 100% Juice
- Reconstituted 100% Juice
- Coconut and Other Plant Waters
- Juice Drinks (up to 24% Juice)
- Nectars
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- RTD Coffee
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- Carbonated RTD Tea and Kombucha
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- Regular Still RTD Tea
- Reduced Sugar Still RTD Tea
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- Regular Energy Drinks
- Reduced Sugar Energy Drinks
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- Regular Sports Drinks
- Reduced Sugar Sports Drinks
- Asian Speciality Drinks
Soft Drinks
This is the aggregation of the following categories; Carbonates, Fruit/vegetable juice, Bottled water, Functional drinks, Concentrates, RTD tea, RTD coffee and Asian speciality drinks.
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This report originates from Passport, our Soft Drinks research and analysis database.
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