'Chicken Republic' South Korea Tops 30,000 Franchise Chicken Outlets
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
South Korea's franchise chicken sector surpassed 30,000 outlets for the first time, reaching 31,397 stores in 2024 — up 5.3% from the previous year. The country has added roughly 1,000 franchise chicken shops annually over six years. BBQ reclaimed the top franchise spot with 2,316 outlets, followed by bhc (2,228) and Kyochon (1,361). Although franchise numbers rose, total chicken shops (including independent stores) have fallen for three straight years to 39,789, suggesting market saturation. Sales for chicken franchises grew 7.3% to 8.78 trillion won, but average sales per franchise and staff per shop remain low; many are small, family-run operations. The rise of delivery apps has concentrated demand toward franchise brands, while some major chains are expanding overseas (BBQ in Europe, the U.S. and China; bhc in Indonesia; Kyochon in China) to find growth.
