How did sugar intake differ among female children, teenagers and young adults in Korea?

Their average daily sugar intake ranged from 42.1 to 46.6 grams, accounting for more than 10 percent of total daily calories. Nearly half came from processed foods such as soft drinks, bread, fruits and ice cream.

What steps did South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommend to reduce sodium and sugar intake?

The ministry recommended cooking with less salt, drinking water instead of sugary beverages, and choosing fresh fruit instead of cookies or bread. It also advised checking the total sugar on processed-food nutrition labels.

Noodles, dumplings, kimchi among top sources of sodium in Koreans’ diets

Q: How much sodium did Koreans consume in 2023, and which foods were major sources?

The average was 3,136 milligrams per person per day. Surveys identified noodles, dumplings, kimchi and soup among the main sources; men averaged 3,696 milligrams daily and women 2,576 milligrams.

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Summary

Koreans consumed an average of 3,136 milligrams of sodium per day in 2023, according to surveys by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. That was about 1.6 times the World Health Organization’s recommended 2,000 milligrams, with noodles, dumplings, kimchi and soup among the main sources. Average daily sugar intake was 35.5 grams, or 7.7 percent of total calories, but female children, teenagers and young adults exceeded 10 percent. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommended reducing salt and choosing water and fresh fruit over sugary drinks and processed snacks.

Key Facts

Men consumed an average of 3,696 milligrams of sodium per day in 2023, compared with 2,576 milligrams for women.
The World Health Organization identifies sodium reduction as one of the most cost-effective strategies for addressing chronic conditions such as heart disease.
Female children, teenagers and young adults consumed an average of 42.1 to 46.6 grams of sugar daily, exceeding 10 percent of their total daily calories.
Nearly half of the sugar consumed by those female age groups came from processed foods, including soft drinks, bread, fruits and ice cream.
The ministry advised people buying processed foods to check the total sugar listed on nutrition facts labels.

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Published Jul 1, 2025 1:57 pm KST

Koreans consume about 1.6 times more sodium than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday.

According to surveys conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the average Korean consumed about 3,136 milligrams of sodium a day in 2023, far more than the WHO’s recommended 2,000 milligrams a day. The average sodium intake for men was 3,696 milligrams per day while the average for women was 2,576 milligrams per day.

Results showed that noodles, dumplings, kimchi and soup were among Koreans' main sources of sodium. “We need to make continued efforts to reduce sodium intake by cooking with less salt,” the ministry said. The WHO calls sodium reduction one of the most cost-effective strategies for addressing chronic conditions such as heart disease.

Meanwhile, Koreans’ daily sugar intake was estimated at 35.5 grams in 2023, making up 7.7 percent of their total caloric input. The figure was less than the 10 percent recommended by the WHO.

However, sugar intake was significantly higher among female children, teenagers and young adults, with daily averages between 42.1 and 46.6 grams, exceeding 10 percent of total daily calories. Nearly half of their daily intake came from processed foods like soft drinks, bread, fruits and ice cream.

The ministry recommended that people should drink water instead of sugary beverages and eat fresh fruit instead of cookies or bread. “When purchasing processed foods, check the sugar total on the nutrition facts label,” it added.

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