Koreans Spend 40% of Pocket Money on Food as Eating Habits Shift
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
CJ CheilJedang survey of 2,000 Koreans (ages 10–70) finds about 40% of personal discretionary spending goes to food; meals average 2.3 per day. Major trends: men’s participation in cooking (73% say men can handle cooking/housework), continued dual-income plans after marriage (61%), and strong health awareness—86% believe diet can improve health. Home-cooked meals remain important (45%), but 68% say convenience foods and meal kits can be healthy. Many (70%) no longer feel three square meals are necessary and 65% don’t want to spend much time preparing food. Younger Koreans increasingly view adding ingredients to ready meals as cooking and consider some overseas-origin dishes eaten in Korea (e.g., chicken, jjajangmyeon) part of Korean cuisine. CJ identifies 2026 food culture keywords “D.E.E.P”: Daily Wellness, Efficiency, Exotic (globalized menus), and Personal (individualized eating). The company plans product moves: more quick-cook and kid-friendly easy meals, high-protein/low-carb/low-sugar options, and globally flavored products aimed at teens, plus collaborations introducing exotic tastes.
