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Korea’s beer imports reached $218 million in 2023, up 11.8 percent from $195 million in 2022, but still 30 percent down from the record high of $310 million in 2018. Although Korea’s beer imports have been decreasing since the pandemic, the United States increased exports of beer to Korea in 2023, reaching $17.9 million, up 43% from $12.5 million in 2022.

Korea’s wine import sector has been undergoing a stabilizing phase since the explosive growth around 2021. In 2023, wine imports reached 506 million USD, down 12.9 percent from the previous year, totaling 56.5 million kg, a decrease of 20.4 percent compared to 2022.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) is a developed Asian country with a global presence in high-tech, automobile, and electronics industries. Korea is an industrial powerhouse with a skilled labor force.

South Korean wine imports reached a record $330 million in 2020, up 27 percent from 2019.

South Korean wine imports reached a record $330 million in 2020, up 27 percent from 2019. Imports from the United States totaled $56 million, up 65 percent.

Hop imports declined in 2019 due to the overall stagnation of the Korean beer market. However, the craft beer market in Korea has been growing over the past few years leading to increased...

The Korean wine market continues to expand as consumers look for high quality, lower alcohol beverages.

Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in Korea. Imported beer continues to expand market share.

While the overall distilled spirits market has stagnated, changes in consumer tastes are creating new opportunities for imported products.

U.S. distilled spirits exports to South Korea totaled $13.4 million in 2019, up 12.2 percent from 2018. The top U.S. products in the market are whiskey, vodka, and liqueurs.

U.S. beer exports to South Korea totaled $67 million in 2019, up 74 percent from the previous year.