South Korea Disposable Household Food Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis By Product Type (Ready-to-Eat Meals, Instant Noodles & Soups, Frozen Snacks, Canned Foods, Others), By Packaging Format (Plastic Trays, Pouches, Cans, Boxes, Others), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Online Retail, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Others), and South Korea Disposable Household Food Market Insights, Industry Trend, Forecasts to 2035.

South Korea Disposable Household Food Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market Size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of around 4.68% from 2025 to 2035
• The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market Size Is Expected to Hold a Significant Share By 2035

According to a research report published by Spherical Insights & Consulting, The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market Size is anticipated to Grow at a CAGR of 4.68% from 2025 to 2035. The market is driven by the changing lifestyle, demand for boil-and-eat, single-serve foods, and increasing demand for preservative-free ready meals.

Market Overview

Pre-packaged, pre-cooked food and snack food are normally to be used once and then discarded for convenience and efficiency in the preparation of food sought by consumers are disposable household foods. The culture of long working hours, high population density in cities, and restriction of home cooking time prevalent in South Korea has made the demand for such high-quality foods. Companies are taking advantage of local consumer trends and enhanced packaging formats, such as microwave-safe trays and environmentally friendly materials. Government regulations on food safety and labeling schemes also encourage consumer trust in this market. Higher consumer health awareness is driving interest in plant-based, organic, fortified, and low-calorie convenience foods.

Report Coverage

This research report categorizes the market for the South Korea disposable household food market based on various segments and regions and forecasts revenue growth and analyzes trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the South Korea disposable household food market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies such as expansion, product launch, and development, partnership, merger, and acquisition have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the South Korea disposable household food market.

Driving Factors

The South Korean market is experiencing lifestyle changes because of growing female labor force participation, postponed marriage, and rising single-person households. These population changes have driven demand for boil-and-eat, single-serve foods. The growth in online shopping and Q-commerce services has increased visibility and availability of disposable foods. Market giants are taking a stake in preservative-free ready meals through smart packaging and high-pressure processing (HPP). Increased need for Korean-inspired frozen meals, including kimchi fried rice and bulgogi bowls, also drives category expansion.

Restraining Factors

Even with the high demand, the market is creating stress due to environmental issues related to plastic packaging and food waste. Pressure from regulation to transition to biodegradable packaging and decrease food additives raises production costs. In addition, consumers increasingly concerned about health become suspicious about processed, disposable food in terms of sodium and preservative levels. Traditional cooking culture and heightened popularity in meal kits also contradict fully disposable choices.

Market Segmentation

The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market share is classified into product type, packaging format, and distribution channel.

• The ready-to-eat meals segment held the largest share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market is segmented by product type into ready-to-eat meals, instant noodles & soups, frozen snacks, canned foods, and others. Among these, the ready-to-eat meals segment held the largest share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The segment leadership is contributed by the rising penetration of microwaveable Korean meal boxes among professional workers and students. The segment leadership is driven by product innovation from market leader brands that provide nutritionally balanced food with fresh ingredients and a longer shelf life. As consumers look for convenience in the form of quick, heat-and-eat food without compromising on taste, the segment continues to gain from better repeat purchase rates.

• The plastic trays segment held a  significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market is segmented by packaging format into plastic trays, pouches, cans, boxes, and others. Among these, the plastic trays segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The trays are widely used for frozen and chilled ready meals and tend to be microwave-safe, single-serve food compatible. The success of these trays is fueled by their leak-free, lightweight, and easy-stacking characteristics that enable convenient transport and storage. More environmentally friendly tray materials, such as recyclable or biodegradable plastic, are being selected by manufacturers to satisfy environmental needs without sacrificing convenience. Trays are especially popular among Korean lunchboxes and ready-to-eat stews and curries.

• The supermarket/hypermarkets segment dominated the market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The South Korea Disposable Household Food Market is segmented by distribution channel into supermarkets/hypermarkets, online retail, convenience stores, department stores, and others. Among these, the supermarket/hypermarkets segment dominates the South Korea Disposable Household Food Market, accounting for the highest market share in recent years. Due to their extensive product selection, in-store promotions, and bundling options, major retailers such as E-Mart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart control most of the disposable household food market. To serve the mass market, these retail channels also provide private-label disposable meal brands at competitive prices.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the South Korea Disposable Household Food Market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

List of Key Companies

• CJ CheilJedang Corp.
• Pulmuone Co., Ltd.
• Dongwon F&B
• Haitai Confectionery & Foods
• Daesang Corp.Ottogi Co., Ltd.
• Ourhome Co., Ltd.
• Lotte Foods
• Hyundai Green Food
• Others

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

 Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at South Korea, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the South Korea Disposable Household Food Market based on the below-mentioned segments:

South Korea Disposable Household Food Market, By Product Type

• Ready-to-Eat Meals
• Instant Noodles & Soups
• Frozen Snacks
• Canned Foods
• Others

South Korea Disposable Household Food Market, By Packaging Format

• Plastic Trays
• Pouches
• Cans
• Boxes

South Korea Disposable Household Food Market, By Distribution Channel

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
• Online Retail
• Convenience Stores
• Department Stores
• Others