South Korea’s bio-health industry achieved record-breaking exports in 2025, fueled by robust global demand for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that the sector’s exports reached $27.9 billion in 2025, marking a 10.3 percent increase year-over-year. Bio-health now ranks as the eighth largest export industry for South Korea.
Specifically, pharmaceutical exports reached $10.4 billion, driven by the rapid expansion of biopharmaceutical products, especially in the US and European markets. Medical device exports amounted to $6 billion.
Cosmetics exports experienced a 12.2 percent increase to $11.4 billion, with the United States becoming the largest export destination. The South Korean government has set an ambitious target of $30.4 billion for bio-health exports in the current year.
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