Seoul, 24 February 2026 – Changing lifestyles, urban living and the rise of modern dining are reshaping food choices in South Korea. More consumers are turning to poultry as a high-quality source of protein. Demand remains strong, and the need for safe, predictable supply is growing—making imports increasingly important.
A stable poultry market is boosting the role of imports
Official data from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety shows that chicken consumption in South Korea rose over the long term—from around 710,000 tonnes in 2015 to over 850,000 tonnes in 2023—and remained high in 2024 at around 780,000 tonnes.
With demand holding firm, imports are becoming more important in ensuring continuity of supply. According to official South Korean data, chicken meat imports more than doubled over the past decade, reaching over 216,000 tonnes in 2025.
European Commission data (DG AGRI) also shows consistently strong EU exports of poultry meat to South Korea—from 8,648 tonnes in 2023 to 9,749 tonnes in 2025.
Standards you can trust: Korean market requirements and the European production model
South Korea has exceptionally high food-safety requirements. The Positive List System (PLS), fully implemented in 2019, sets strict limits for residues of veterinary substances in food, making quality control and production transparency crucial for importers and distributors.
The European poultry production model—banning antibiotics as growth promoters, backed by strict veterinary oversight and full “farm-to-fork” traceability—aligns with South Korean rules and is often even more stringent. As a result, European poultry meets market expectations for safety, quality and reliable supply.
The first year of the EU POULTRY campaign in South Korea
In 2025, the European Union co-financed three-year campaign “European Poultry – From Our Farms to Your Tables” launched in South Korea to showcase European production standards and support long-term trade growth between the EU and South Korea.
In its first year, the campaign focused on promoting European poultry production standards and strengthening dialogue with the market. A key milestone was the campaign launch in Seoul and participation in Seoul Food & Hotel 2025, which attracted over 55,000 visitors and 1,639 exhibitors from 45 countries.
“The first year of the campaign in South Korea was about building trust. It’s a demanding market, where the European poultry production model—grounded in animal care, respect for the environment and consumer safety—is generating genuine interest,” says Dariusz Goszczyński, President of the National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce in Poland.
Next steps
In the second year, activities will focus on deepening business cooperation and strengthening industry dialogue. A key part of the campaign’s presence in the market will be Seoul Food & Hotel 2026 in June—one of South Korea’s flagship trade fairs for the food and hospitality sectors.
In parallel,South Korean partners are set to visit Poland for meetings with representatives of the European poultry industry and a first-hand look at EU production standards.
More information: https://eupoultry.eu/ko/
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