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E-commerce is one of the largest retail channels and an essential component of the overall consumer market in Korea. Food related online sales in 2023 including food, agricultural products, and food delivery services was once again the largest category, occupying about 30 percent of the total online sales for three consecutive years.

Korea’s marketing year (MY) 2024/25 citrus production is forecast down 2.6 percent to 565,000 MT, a 10-year low, on gradually declining acreage and adverse weather conditions. Jeju Island, where nearly all Korean citrus is grown, experienced a prolonged summer heat wave lasting into mid-September, followed by excessive fall rain, which caused fruit cracking and rot.

Korea depends heavily on imports to meet the demand for dried fruits, though overall demand has seen a slight decrease over the last five years. In 2023, the United States held roughly 53% of the market share for imported dried fruit.

In 2022 (the latest official data available), South Korea's sales in the HRI food service sector reached 177.12 trillion KRW (137.1 billion USD), a 17.48 percent increase from 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, monthly per capita spending on the HRI food service rose to 179,648 KRW (139.1 USD), up 10.66 percent from 2022 and 30.65 percent from 2021.

This report provides updates to the Korea Rice Production 2021 report issued by FAS/Seoul on November 22, 2021, based on new data released by the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in December 2021.

Korea has issued its annual list of adjustment tariffs and voluntary tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for certain agricultural products for calendar year 2022. Korea’s 2022 tariff adjustments were relatively unchanged from the previous year; however, expanded TRQ’s in a handful of agricultural commodities will increase opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports, particularly in feed grains and food ingredients.

This report includes technical information and certificate requirements for food and agricultural product exports to the Republic of South Korea. Notable updates include dairy export certification for Korea and the NAQS electronic import certification for processed organic products.

This report outlines specific requirements for food and agricultural product imports into the Republic of South Korea. Updates to the 2021 FAIRS Report are included in sections I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX and Appendix II.