The continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, which allows blood sugar monitoring for 24 hours without needing blood draws by simply adhering the device to the skin, is gaining attention in South Korea following its popularity in the United States and Europe. Korean startups such as Lansik and Dr. Diary have been involved in the CGM sector for the past few years. Kakao Healthcare, a subsidiary of Korea’s IT giant Kakao, has recently entered the market.
Market research firm Mordor Intelligence forecasts that the CGM market will expand from $8.21 billion (10.9 trillion won) this year to $13.54 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.52%.
The CGM device, comparable in size to a Korean 500 won coin, measures blood glucose levels indirectly through a thin filament that is part of a patch-like device. These filaments have an enzyme that oxidizes glucose, the levels of which are then measured in the interstitial fluid between cells. The method has an error margin of 10% compared to traditional blood draws.
Although three U.S. pharmaceutical giants—Dexcom, Abbott, and Medtronic—currently lead the global CGM market, Korean companies are beginning to make their mark. In September last year, the local venture i-SENS released CareSens Air, marking the launch of the first domestically produced CGM. Kakao Healthcare has also introduced a blood sugar management solution for diabetic patients through the app ‘Pasta,’ while Lansik offers a dietary solution via its app ‘Glucofit.’’
One of the primary benefits of CGM is its ability to provide personalized blood sugar data. Since individuals react differently to various foods, CGM can precisely identify which ones cause blood sugar levels to spike. This feature has made CGM particularly popular among Korean women aged 30 to 40 for managing their diet through blood sugar monitoring. Managing sugar intake is vital to successful dieting, as sugar is often seen as a major obstacle. For instance, Glucofit, an app designed to assist users in establishing healthy eating habits by managing blood sugar, boasts that 75% of its users are women between the ages of 30-45.
