In 2020, sales of the HRI food service sector reached 140 trillion KRW (122.2 billion USD), a decrease of 3.1 percent from 2019. The pandemic affected the sector harshly and most of its subsectors experienced decreases in sales. The government measures attempting to contain the spread of the virus and dropped traffic of domestic and international consumers damaged the sector's business performance. However, it is forecast to recover, though at a slow pace, as businesses are coming up with innovative strategies and consumer spending on dining out is on the gradual rise which will lead to growth of employment and sales in relevant industries.

Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional_Seoul ATO_Korea - Republic of_KS2022-0021

Korean seafood imports totaled $5.74 billion in 2021, up 9 percent from 2020, with imports from the United States increasing slightly to $217 million. The United States remains the fifth largest seafood exporter to Korea with a 3.8 percent market share. Korean consumers generally view U.S. fishery products as high quality and safe, but regional competitors often have lower prices. U.S. fishery exports to Korea are generally focused on lower volume/higher value market segments.

Korea Seafood Market Update 2022_Seoul ATO_Korea - Republic of_KS2022-0019

The United States is the leading supplier of imported consumer-oriented agricultural products to the Korean retail industry, shipping a record $6.2 billion in 2021. The outlook for U.S. products in the Korean retail industry is excellent for a wide range of products, including beef, pork, processed meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, dairy products, juices and soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, condiments and sauces, processed organic foods, coffee, bakery products, snacks and confectioneries.

Retail Foods_Seoul ATO_Korea - Republic of_KS2022-0017

The lobster market in Korea was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2021, Korean lobster imports totaled 413.6 metric tons. The United States was the second largest supplier, holding a 7.7 percent market share by volume. Canada is the largest supplier.

Korea Lobster Market Brief_Seoul ATO_Korea - Republic of_KS2022-0013