South Korea’s total alcohol shipments fell to 2.987 million kiloliters last year, below 3 million for the first time since 1998, when shipments were 2.922 million kiloliters during the IMF foreign exchange crisis. The figure was down 21.5% from 3.804 million kiloliters in 2015, with beer, diluted soju and takju all declining. A 2025 survey found that consumers drank on average 8.8 days per month and 6.6 drinks per drinking day, down from 9.0 days and 6.7 drinks in 2023. Companies including HiteJinro, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, OB Beer and Jipyong Brewery are shifting toward non-alcoholic, low-ABV and RTD products, while exports of other liqueurs, including fruit soju, rose 4.3% to $100.41 million last year.