Domestic alcoholic beverage shipments totaled 2.988 million kiloliters last year, falling below 3 million kiloliters for the first time in 27 years since 1998.

Shipments of beer and soju have declined for three consecutive years since 2022, while makgeolli has continued a downward trend for five years.

Growing health consciousness, an aging population, a shrinking population, and changing company dinner cultures are cited as the causes behind these shifts.