Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Over the past five years, Korea’s retail industry has seen rapid growth in online sales and a contraction in large supermarket sales.

Sales at the 26 major retailers (15 brick-and-mortar retailers and 11 online retailers) covered in this survey grew by an average of 6.7 percent per year from 2021 to 2025, with offline sales up 2.6 percent and online sales up 10.1 percent. Within offline retail, department stores (up 5.7 percent) and convenience stores (up 5.6 percent) sustained growth, while SSMs (up 1.0 percent) posted modest gains, and large supermarkets (down 4.2 percent) saw a sharp decline. 

Sales at the 26 major retailers rose 6.8 percent in 2025, supported by growth in online sales (up 11.8 percent) and a modest increase in offline sales (up 0.4 percent). 

Offline sales posted negative growth in the first half but turned positive in the second half of 2025, as the new administration executed a supplementary budget and rolled out domestic-demand measures such as recovery consumption coupons, improving consumer sentiment and supporting gains at department stores (up 4.3 percent), convenience stores (up 0.1 percent), and SSMs (up 0.3 percent).

Sales at department stores (up 4.3 percent) and convenience stores (up 0.1 percent) slowed in the first half, but both increased for six consecutive months from July as consumer sentiment improved, ending 2025 with positive growth. Convenience stores, however, saw smaller growth than a year earlier, partly due to a decline in the number of outlets.

Large supermarkets (down 4.2 percent) remained weak in every month except January (Lunar New Year) and October (Chuseok), posting negative growth for a second consecutive year following 2024.

SSMs (up 0.3 percent) posted positive growth in the first half but turned negative in the second half of 2025. Sluggish food sales—its key revenue segment—pulled down sales per store, which have declined for 13 consecutive months since December 2024.

Online sales remained strong, with steady growth across most product categories, including food, services/other, living and household goods, and home appliances.

In December 2025, total sales at the 26 major retailers rose 4.4 percent year-on-year, with offline sales up 1.7 percent and online sales up 6.3 percent.

Offline sales increased in fashion/accessories (up 5.1 percent) and premium international brands (up 13.7 percent), while declines continued in food (down 1.6 percent) and living and household goods (down 3.4 percent). 

Online sales rose in food (up 13.7 percent) and living and household goods (up 6.0 percent). Services/other (down 2.4 percent) declined for the first time, reflecting base effects.