Meals and soups in South Korea is expected to deliver solid growth of 4% in 2026, with retail value sales projected to reach KRW4.9 trillion, underpinned by a structural consumer shift from eating out to eating in as persistent food inflation is encouraging households to seek convenient yet affordable alternatives to restaurant and delivery meals. This makes meals and soups an attractive space, as the combination of steady growth and accelerating retail value sales signals sustained demand driven by durable behaviour changes rather than short-term volatility, despite real spending power on food being forecast to decline. To succeed, brands must combine convenience, quality and affordability while investing in health-orientated innovation aligned with the everyday wellness and slow-ageing movements, premiumisation, clean-label ingredients and direct-to-consumer strategies to differentiate from increasingly competitive private label products, as consumers are becoming more selective and willing to pay only where they perceive clear value.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Meals and Soups 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 a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Meals and Soups 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 Meals and Soups 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 Meals and Soups in South Korea?
- Which are the leading brands in Meals and Soups in South Korea?
- How are products distributed in Meals and Soups in South Korea?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Meals and Soups?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in South Korea?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Key Data Insights
Key Industry Trends
Shift from eating out to eating in drives growth
Ready meals dominate as prepared salads deliver fastest growth
Wellness reshapes competitive dynamics
Chart 1 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 2 Volume Sales 2021-2031
Chart 3 Value Sales by Category 2026
Ready meals to remain dominant as chilled and frozen formats grow
Prepared salads to accelerate as low-effort formats gain appeal
Value for money and selectivity to reshape competitive dynamics
Chart 1 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 2 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
CJ Cheiljedang retains leadership amid gradual fragmentation
Established brands defend positions while private label expansion creates new opportunities
Chart 1 Company Shares 2026
Chart 2 Brand Shares 2026
Convenience stores and hypermarkets lead meals and soups
Improved delivery services drive online sales
Chart 1 Retail Channels 2021-2026
GS25 brings functional nutrition to convenience store gimbap
E-mart Kkini redefines affordable frozen meals
Chart 1 Real GDP Growth 2021-2031
Chart 2 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 1 Population 2021-2031
Chart 2 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 3 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Country Reports Disclaimer
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Meals and Soups
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- Dried Ready Meals
- Shelf Stable Ready Meals
- Chilled Ready Meals
- Frozen Ready Meals
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- Dry Soup
- Shelf Stable Soup
- Chilled Soup
- Frozen Soup
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- Chilled Pizza
- Frozen Pizza
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- Meal Kits
- Quick Recipe Kits
- Chilled Lunch Kits
- Prepared Salads
Meals and Soups
This is the aggregation of ready meals, pizza, food kits, prepared salads, and soup. Includes: These are products that have had recipe 'skills' added to them by the manufacturer, resulting in a high degree of readiness, completion and convenience. Food kits is an exception where typically the extent of preparation is much shorter than other meal products; includes meal kits where consumers are to put together pre-portioned ingredients and cook with the guidance of recipe cards. Ready meals are generally accepted to be complete meals that require few or no extra ingredients. However, in the case of shelf stable ready meals, the term also encompasses meal 'centres’; for food kits, they do require a degree of cooking and preparation. As such, some meals may require cooking (ready-to-cook); others may simply need reheating, prior to serving (ready-to-eat). Excludes: Any products sold unpackaged and/or by weight, including food sold from a retail deli counter.
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 Meals and Soups research and analysis database.
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