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In 2022, the meat substitute market value in South Korea stood at around *** billion South Korean won. The market for plant-based substitutes food has grown throughout the last years and was expected to grow more. Soy-based products accounted for the majority of plant-based alternatives in 2020 and were forecast to expand this lead. 

What are South Korean consumers' reasons for eating meat alternatives?

While there was growing interest in vegetarian and vegan diets, as seen in the rapid growth of the South Korean vegan population, most consumers were interested in plant-based products for health benefits and helping them lose weight. Among consumers of the MZ generation (Millennials and Gen Z), concerns about the environment and animal welfare were the leading reasons for choosing meat substitutes.

Consumption behavior

The plant-based substitute food products consumers have tried the most in South Korea were mainly products that were originally consumed as dairy products, with milk alternatives being far ahead of all other products. According to a survey, only around * people has tried meat substitutes. If people were consuming plant-based products, they were doing so rather frequently, as more than **** of all respondents stated they consumed such food at least several times a month. Another survey identified that on average, people spent around ** South Korean won on vegan food products per purchase.