South Koreans consumed an average of 26 chickens per person last year, more than double the consumption rate from 20 years ago. The popularity of Korean-style fried chicken has likely contributed to this trend.
Around 1.1137 billion chickens were slaughtered in Korea last year, according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute on July 21. This amounts to a per capita consumption of about 20 chickens, given Korea’s population of 51.63 million. Korea also imported over 230,000 tons of chicken meat last year, roughly one-third of the domestic production of 600,000 tons.
Based on these figures, the institute estimated that each South Korean consumed an average of 26 chickens last year, with the meat, excluding bones, weighing about 15.7 kilograms per person.
In 1970, long before chicken became a staple in Korea, the per capita consumption was 1.4 kilograms. However, since 2000, chicken consumption has surged dramatically, from 7.8 kilograms in 2003 to 11.5 kilograms in 2013. A decade later, in 2023, consumption rose by another 4.2 kilograms.
Demand for chicken usually peaks in July, coinciding with the hottest days of summer, known as ‘Boknal,’ when over 100 million chickens are slaughtered for consumption. This figure is 30 million more than in February when chicken demand is the lowest. Traditionally, Koreans eat chicken dishes high in nutrients during Boknal to “boost energy levels” when the weather is hot and humid.
But Korea’s per capita chicken consumption is not among the highest in the world. According to the OECD, South Korea’s estimated chicken consumption this year is 17.6 kilograms, which is higher than the global average of 14.6 kilograms, but lower than that of the U.S. at 49.3 kilograms and the European Union at 23.1 kilograms. In Asia, Malaysia tops the list with 47.4 kilograms per capita, while Japan and China have estimated consumptions of 13.4 kilograms and 14.1 kilograms, respectively.
