South Korea Air Conditioner Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Application, and Region, 2026-2034

South Korea Air Conditioner Market Overview:

The South Korea air conditioner market size reached USD 2,492.29 Million in 2025. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 3,851.02 Million by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.95% during 2026-2034. The market is driven by escalating demand propelled by record-breaking heat waves and climate change impacts, strengthening government regulations on energy efficiency standards, and rapid integration of smart technology featuring AI-powered capabilities and IoT connectivity. These factors collectively expand the South Korea air conditioner market share.

South Korea Air Conditioner Market Trends:

Escalating Demand Driven by Record Heat Waves and Climate Change

The South Korean air conditioner market is experiencing substantial growth as the country confronts increasingly severe heat waves and rising temperatures linked to climate change. During summer 2024, the nation experienced one of the most extreme heat waves on record, with temperatures consistently exceeding 33 degrees Celsius for extended periods. This climate pattern has fundamentally altered consumer behavior and energy consumption patterns across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Urban areas, particularly the densely populated Seoul Capital Area, face amplified heat island effects that intensify cooling needs. The record-breaking temperatures have made air conditioning no longer a luxury but an essential requirement for maintaining health, productivity, and quality of life. Businesses recognize that comfortable indoor environments are crucial for employee performance and customer satisfaction, driving significant investment in advanced cooling systems. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that days with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius or higher totaled 15 days in July, more than four times the average, while tropical nights persisted for 23 consecutive days, the longest stretch since 1973. This unprecedented thermal stress has fundamentally transformed the South Korea air conditioner market growth trajectory, with both replacement demand and new installations accelerating across all market segments as consumers and businesses prioritize climate adaptation measures.

Integration of Smart Technology and AI-Powered Features

The South Korean air conditioner market is undergoing a technological revolution characterized by widespread integration of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things connectivity, and advanced automation capabilities. Leading manufacturers Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have positioned AI-powered air conditioners as flagship products, incorporating sophisticated sensors, machine learning algorithms, and predictive analytics that fundamentally transform the user experience and operational efficiency. These intelligent systems continuously monitor indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, occupancy patterns, and user preferences to automatically optimize cooling performance, airflow direction, and energy consumption without requiring manual intervention. Voice command functionality through platforms like Samsung Bixby and LG ThinQ enables hands-free operation, while smartphone applications provide remote control capabilities allowing users to adjust settings from anywhere. The SmartThings ecosystem creates seamless integration with other connected home devices, enabling coordinated automation scenarios where air conditioning responds intelligently to factors like smart door lock status, motion sensor detection, and weather forecast data. Advanced air quality monitoring represents another significant innovation dimension, with premium models incorporating sensors that detect particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide levels, and other pollutants, automatically activating air purification functions when contamination thresholds are exceeded. In January 2025, LG Electronics unveiled its new range of air conditioners featuring the Whisen Objet Collection Tower I and View I Pro models, which integrate artificial intelligence capabilities designed to offer enhanced cooling performance and superior air quality through adaptive temperature control and smart monitoring.

South Korea Air Conditioner Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the regional and country levels for 2026-2034. Our report has categorized the market based on type and application.

Type Insights:

• Room Air Conditioner
• Ducted Air Conditioner
• Ductless Air Conditioner
• Centralized Air Conditioner

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes room air conditioner, ducted air conditioner, ductless air conditioner, and centralized air conditioner.

Application Insights:

• Residential
• Healthcare
• Commercial and Retail
• Hospitality
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application have also been provided in the report. This includes residential, healthcare, commercial and retail, hospitality, and others.

Regional Insights:

• Seoul Capital Area
• Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
• Honam (Southwestern Region)
• Hoseo (Central Region)
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Seoul Capital Area, Yeongnam (Southeastern Region), Honam (Southwestern Region), Hoseo (Central Region), and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Korea Air Conditioner Market News:

• April 2025: The South Korean government selected Samsung to supply 18,000 free air conditioners to low-income households under the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Improvement Project. This marks the fourth consecutive year of the program, bringing Samsung’s total contribution to 60,000 high-efficiency units aimed at improving comfort and reducing energy costs for vulnerable communities.
• March 2024: LG Electronics revealed its efficient new DUALCOOL residential air conditioner at MCE 2024, one of Europe's biggest heating, ventilation and air conditioning exhibitions in Milan, Italy. Leveraging LG's latest air conditioning technologies, including the comfort-enhancing Soft Air function, the new DUALCOOL provides a year-round pleasant indoor environment. The advanced new model integrates a dual outlet structure that delivers fast, optimized temperature control and gentle, indirect airflow.

South Korea Air Conditioner Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea air conditioner market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea air conditioner market on the basis of type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea air conditioner market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea air conditioner market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea air conditioner market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea air conditioner market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea air conditioner market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea air conditioner market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC's industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Korea air conditioner market from 2020-2034.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea air conditioner market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Korea air conditioner industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.