Competitive Landscape
Rising Market Concentration and Highball Innovation Are Reshaping Competition in Rtds
Between 2020 and 2025, RTDs in South Korea became significantly more concentrated, with Brewguru Co Ltd achieving a dramatic increase in total volume share, rising from 33% in 2023 to 61% in 2024 and reaching 64% in 2025. In contrast, other established companies such as Beam Suntory Korea, Sunbo Liquor Trading Co Ltd, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, and Independent Liquor Korea experienced declines in share, with Independent Liquor Korea falling from 40% in 2020 to 2% in 2025 and Lotte Chilsung Beverage decreasing from 7% in 2022 to 2% in 2025.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the RTDs 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.
If you're in the RTDs 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 RTDs 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 RTDs in South Korea?
- Where is consumer demand for RTDs focussed?
- Which is being consumed more; beer, wine or spirits?
- Where is demand growing? Stagnating?
- How is the operating environment for alcoholic drinks changing?
- Which are the leading brands in South Korea?
- How are products distributed in South Korea?
- What are the key trends in new product development?
- Do consumers want value for money or added value?
- How will macroeconomic context and shifting cultural values shape future growth?
- How will COVID-19 and recession impact the alcoholic drinks industry?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Rtds in South Korea - Category analysis
Key Data Insights
Rtds Summary
Rtds Sustain Double-Digit Growth through Innovation and Convenience
Spirit-Based Highballs Eclipse All Other Launches as Brands Widen Flavour Portfolios
Hybridisation and Premium Innovation Sustain Rtd Momentum
Rtds Is Set to Enter a Slower Growth Phase as Premiumisation Drives Future Expansion
Regulatory Flexibility, Product Hybridisation, and Convenience Store Expansion Will Reshape Rtds
Rising Market Concentration and Highball Innovation Are Reshaping Competition in Rtds
Convenience Stores Strengthen Leadership as Private Label Highballs Reshape Rtd Retailing
Alcoholic Drinks in South Korea - Industry Overview
2025 Developments
Key Data Insights
Alcoholic Drinks Volumes Remain Flat as Inflation and Premiumisation Drive Value Growth
Spirits Polarisation Intensifies as Whisky Demand Splits between Value and Premium Segments
Nolo Revolution Drives Strong Growth for Rtds as Moderation and Wellness Reshape Drinking Culture
Alcoholic Drinks Will Be Marked by Flat Volumes and Value-Led Growth Dynamics
Spirits Will Remain Stable While Rtds Drive Growth Amid Shift toward Low-Abv and Convenience-Led Drinking
Future Growth Is Set to Be Shaped by a Shift to Quality, Affordability and Moderation
Market Concentration Remains High with Stable Leadership among Domestic Players
Competitive Dynamics Are Shaped by Portfolio Innovation, Premiumisation and Nolo Expansion
Convenience Stores Extend Reach as Small Formats Boost Sales
Retail E-Commerce and Omni-Channel Strategies Steadily Gain Traction
Legislation
Legal Purchasing Age and Legal Drinking Age
Drink-Driving
Advertising
Smoking Ban
Opening Hours
On-Trade Establishments
Taxation and Duty Levies
Contraband/Parallel Trade
Duty Free
Cross-Border/Private Imports
Country Reports Disclaimer
The following categories and subcategories are included:
RTDs
- Malt-based RTDs
- Spirit-based RTDs
- Wine-based RTDs
- Other RTDs
- Non Alcoholic RTDs
RTDs
RTD stands for ‘ready-to-drink’. Other terms which may be used for these products are FABs, alcopops and premixes. The RTDs sector is the aggregation of malt-, wine-, spirit- and other types of premixed drinks. These drinks usually have an alcohol content of around 5% but this can reach as high as 10% ABV. Premixes containing a high percentage of alcohol of around 15%+ combined with juice or any other soft drink are included here. RTDs are usually marketed as products to be drunk neat, with ice, or as a cocktail ingredient. Fruit-flavoured, vodka-based spirits with an alcohol content of between 16-21% are classified here. Examples: Alizé, Ursus Roter, Berentzen Fruchtige, Kleiner Feigling.
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 RTDs research and analysis database.
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