Which alcoholic drinks in Korea have seen the biggest shipment declines recently?

Beer and soju shipments have fallen for three consecutive years since 2022, while takju shipments have dropped for five consecutive years as of 2025. Beer shipments were about 1.52 million kiloliters, soju 793,000 kiloliters, and takju 318,000 kiloliters last year.

How is Korea's alcohol industry responding to lower demand for traditional drinks?

Producers are introducing more non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages. They are also offering products with a wider variety of flavors and scents to offset the decline in traditional alcohol shipments.

Korea's alcoholic beverage output falls to 27-year low in 2025 amid shifting drinking trends

Q: Why is Korea's alcoholic beverage output falling in 2025?

The decline is linked to growing health consciousness, population decline, aging, and changing attitudes toward late-night gatherings. A report by the agriculture ministry also said both the volume and frequency of alcohol consumption have slowed recently.

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Summary

Korea's alcoholic beverage production fell below 3 million kiloliters in 2025 for the first time in 27 years, signaling a structural decline in the industry. Beer and soju shipments have fallen for three straight years since 2022, while takju has declined for five straight years as of 2025. The data from the National Tax Service point to shifting drinking trends, with health consciousness and demographic change cited as factors. The industry is responding with non-alcoholic, low-alcohol, and flavored products.

Key Facts

Total alcoholic beverage output stood at slightly below 2.99 million kiloliters in 2025, the first time since 1998 that it fell under 3 million kiloliters.
Beer shipments were about 1.52 million kiloliters last year, down 7.2 percent from a year earlier.
Soju shipments totaled 793,000 kiloliters in 2025, while takju shipments came to 318,000 kiloliters.
Domestic shipments of fruit wines reached 17,000 kiloliters last year, surpassing that level for the first time since 2021.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 23, 2026 1:25 pm KST
Updated Aug 23, 2026 1:26 pm KST

Korea's alcoholic beverage production plunged to below 3 million kiloliters (kl) for the first time in 27 years in 2025, data showed Sunday, signaling a structural decline in the industry with more Koreans turning to healthy lifestyles.

Shipments of beer and soju have fallen for three consecutive years since 2022, while those of takju, or traditional Korean rice liquor, have dropped for five consecutive years as of 2025, according to the data from the National Tax Service.

The total output of alcoholic beverages stood at slightly below 2.99 million kl last year, marking the first time since 1998 that it hovered below 3 million kl.

By type of drinks, shipments of beers stood at about 1.52 million kl last year, down 7.2 percent from a year earlier. Shipments of soju and takju also showed consistent declines, recording 793,000 kl and 318,000 kl last year, respectively.

The prolonged decline in shipments of the three popular alcoholic beverages appears to signal a structural shift in drinking trends, driven by growing health consciousness, population decline, aging of the population and changing attitudes toward late-night gatherings.

A report by the agriculture ministry showed both the volume and frequency of alcohol consumption have slowed recently, with many consumers turning to specific types of drinks or trying out new drinks instead.

In one instance, domestic shipments of fruit wines amounted to 17,000 kl last year, surpassing the 17,000 kl mark for the first time since 2021.

The alcohol industry has been introducing new non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages, as well as products with a variety of flavors and scents, to offset the decline in shipments of traditional alcoholic drinks.

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