South Korea Food Safety Testing Market

South Korea Food Safety Testing Market Overview:

The South Korea food safety testing market size reached USD 480.27 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 941.81 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 7.77% during 2025-2033. At present, the growing concerns about the increase in foodborne illness cases is driving the demand for food safety examination in South Korea. Apart from this, the government of South Korea is enforcing rigorous rules and regulations concerning food safety. This, along with the innovations in the food processing sector and heightened demand for food exports, is expanding the South Korea food safety testing market share.

South Korea Food Safety Testing Market Trends:

Growing Foodborne Disease Cases

The growing concerns about an increase in foodborne illness cases is driving the demand for food safety testing in South Korea. With more awareness about the possible health hazards linked to contaminated food, there is an increased emphasis on food safety measures. Government organizations and industry stakeholders alike are focusing their efforts on ensuring that food products are safe for consumption. The incidence of foodborne illnesses, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, is encouraging the enforcement of more stringent food safety regulations, further fueling the requirement for food safety testing. Consumers in South Korea are becoming more concerned about the quality of the food they eat, ensuring that food safety testing is a vital part of ensuring public health. This heightened consciousness among consumers as well as regulatory agencies is driving the use of sophisticated testing techniques to detect contaminants, pathogens, and other toxins in food items. Moreover, in 2024, around 1000 people in South Korea were dealing with food poisoning associated with Kimchi contaminated with norovirus, as per the information provided by the BBC. This further increased the awareness about food safety among the masses, thereby impelling the South Korea food safety testing market growth.

Rigorous Government Rules and Regulations

The government of South Korea is enforcing rigorous rules and regulations concerning food safety, creating a demand for food safety testing. These regulations ensure that food items meet set safety standards prior to being released into the market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) impose these standards strictly, demanding that producers and providers perform tests on their goods regularly. Moreover, there are international regulations like those of the Codex Alimentarius that impact South Korea's regulatory environment as it aims to uphold a high level of food safety and safeguard its citizens. The adoption of these stringent regulations guarantees that foods are safe to eat and without injurious substances, thus driving the need for credible food safety testing services. Producers have to comply with these rules, relying more on testing to remain compliant and prevent potential legal and image-based risks. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Minister Oh Yoo-kyung) declared on June 18, 2025, that it will issue an administrative announcement regarding the revised "Standards for Temporary Standards and Specifications for Foods," which will encompass relaxing submission requirements for applying for temporary standard/specification recognition of new food additives. The revised food additive regulations seek to simplify toxicity data requirements and approval processes by acknowledging global safety evaluations and implementing staged testing along with fast-tracked modification options.

Development of the Food Processing Sector and Export Market

The growth of South Korea's food processing sector, as well as the heightened demand for food exports, is further driving the demand for food safety testing. With the nation becoming an influential market player in international food markets, the integrity and safety of the product must be ensured. Exporters, especially in industries like seafood, processed foods, and beverages, need to adhere to global food safety standards in order to continue access to international markets. This demand calls for thorough food safety testing to ensure the elimination of contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens from the product. The growing emphasis on traceability, quality control, and compliance with global standards is catalyzing the demand for testing services along the entire food supply chain.

South Korea Food Safety Testing Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on type, food tested, and technology.

Type Insights:

• Pathogen
• Genetically Modified Organism
• Chemical and Toxin
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes pathogen, genetically modified organism, chemical and toxin, and others.

Food Tested Insights:

• Meat and Meat Products
• Dairy and Dairy Products
• Cereals, Grains and Pulses
• Processed Food
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the food tested have also been provided in the report. This includes meat and meat products, dairy and dairy products, cereals, grains and pulses, processed food, and others.

Technology Insights:

• Agar Culturing
• PCR-based Assay
• Immunoassay-based
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the technology. This includes agar culturing, PCR-based assay, immunoassay-based, 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 Food Safety Testing Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea food safety testing market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea food safety testing market on the basis of type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea food safety testing market on the basis of food tested?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea food safety testing market on the basis of technology?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea food safety testing market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea food safety testing market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea food safety testing market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea food safety testing market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea food safety testing 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 food safety testing market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea food safety testing 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 food safety testing 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.